There are hundreds of variations of poker. The goal of the game is to capture the pot, the sum of all the bets made by players throughout the course of the hand. Players bet money in hopes of forming the best hand or to bluff other players into folding. In poker, money won is just as valuable as money lost. Similarly, knowing when to bet and when to fold a hand is equally important. A winning poker hand is the highest possible combination of five cards.

Each betting round begins with a player putting down their starting stake. All other players then have three options: to match the last raise or fold. Generally, players who raise their stakes must match the previous bet. If they do not, the player will be forced to fold because of lack of funds. It is for this reason that poker house rules limit the amount of bets after three to four raises. In some games, it is possible to raise your stakes, but doubling your stake may lead to a huge pot.

Players may also make an all-in bet. This bet involves placing all of their remaining chips into the pot. This bet has specific rules depending on which poker variant you are playing. In most games, the round ends when all players have checked, folded or called, depending on the rules of the game. Depending on the rules of a poker game, you may be required to put your ante into the pot as well. This is the last step in the game, and the final round of betting is known as the pot.