Poker is a card game that can be played by 2 or more players and involves betting on the outcome of a hand. It is a game that requires skill and strategy, and has become an important part of modern culture. It is played in private homes, casinos, and clubs, as well as over the Internet.
In most forms of Poker, each player contributes a sum of money to the pot before being dealt cards. This amount is called an ante. During each betting interval, players can choose to call (match the bet of the previous player), raise (bet more than the last player) or fold. In most games, a player may not raise his bet more than once during an interval.
After the betting phase in the pre-flop has ended, three cards are dealt face up in the center of the table and are called the flop. These are community cards, and can be used by all players to build a five-card poker hand. The player with the highest poker hand wins the pot. Ties are broken by the rank of the high card.
In Poker, there are many ways for players to mislead each other about the strength of their hands. For example, a player who repeatedly checks might signal weak cards while hoping to lure aggressive opponents into calling his bets. Similarly, a player who blinks frequently or chews gum might be trying to mask nervousness.