Poker is a card game in which players bet on who has the best hand, according to varying rules. The game uses a standard 52-card deck and is played in casinos, community card rooms, and at home games.

A player may be required to make an initial bet, called an ante, before the cards are dealt. The ante is usually a small amount, like $1 or $5, but it can be higher, as determined by the rules of the particular game being played.

In most poker variants, the first player to make a bet is said to “bet”, the next player who exactly matches the previous bet is said to “call”, and a player who raises his bet more than the previous bettor is said to “raise”. Some variants also allow players to “check” (stay in without betting), which is allowed only if no other player has made a bet during the current betting interval.

The game is won by having the best hand or making a bet that no other player calls. Ties are broken by looking at the highest pair, and then the second highest, etc. The highest hand wins the pot, which is the total of all bets made by all players during a deal.