Poker is a card game that can be played for money or as part of a tournament. The game requires skill and luck to win, but it is possible to learn the basics in a relatively short period of time. There are many variants of the game, and some players specialize in specific types of hands or betting strategies.
Before play begins, each player “buys in” by contributing a specified number of chips to the pot. These chips are generally of different colors, with the white chip representing one unit and the red chips representing a larger amount of units. The player whose turn it is to act puts in his or her first bet. The other players may choose to call or raise the bet.
Each player uses the five community cards in combination with their two hidden or “hole” cards to make a poker hand. The highest poker hand wins the pot. Players may also bluff in the game, wagering that they have a superior poker hand even though they do not.
After the flop, there is a second round of betting. The dealer then reveals the final fifth community card, called the river. If the final card makes a straight or flush, then the players show their hands and the player with the best poker hand wins the pot. Players may also drop out of a poker hand, but they must still pay any bets made by other players that remain in the pot.