Poker is a card game played between two or more people in which players make bets during a round by placing chips (representing money) into the pot. The person who has the highest hand at the end of the betting period wins. The game is usually fast-paced and players bet based on the strength of their cards and their reading of other players’ bets and body language.

A Poker hand consists of five cards that are all of the same rank. The highest ranking card wins the hand. In some games there are wild cards that can take the place of any other card, although they still do not change the rank of a hand.

After the first round of betting is complete, the dealer puts three cards face up on the table that everyone can use (called a flop). This starts the second betting round.

Once that betting round is over the dealer will put a fourth card on the board that everyone can use (called the turn). After this is another betting round.

A fifth card is then dealt which is called the river. Once this is dealt it is time for the final betting round which is also known as the showdown. During this stage the player with the best 5 card poker hand wins the pot.