Poker is a game of cards in which players try to form the highest-ranking hand. The highest-ranking hand wins the pot (the sum of all bets placed during a betting interval).
Each player places a number of chips into the pot, called their buy-in amount. There are one or more betting intervals during each deal, depending on the poker variant. In each betting interval, one player — designated by the rules of the particular poker variant being played – has the privilege or obligation of making the first bet.
When a player makes a bet, other players may choose to “call” it or to “fold.” The term “fold” means to give up your cards and thus forfeit the right to compete for the pot. If you fold, the player to your left has the opportunity to bet into the pot again.
After the betting phase, 3 cards are dealt face-up on the table and are revealed to all players – these are called the “flop.” These are community cards that can be used by all players to build their best 5-card hand.
The player who has the best 5-card poker hand wins the pot. However, sometimes there is a tie among the players with the best hands and the pot is split evenly. A good poker game involves a combination of luck, skill, and the ability to read your opponents’ expressions and subtle body language, as well as an understanding of probability and mathematical odds.