Poker is a card game that involves betting and is popular with millions of people around the world. It is considered a game of chance, but can also involve a great deal of skill. The game has a rich history dating back centuries and will likely continue to grow for many years to come.

The game of Poker is played with a standard 52-card deck. Players compete to win the pot, which is the sum of all bets placed during a round. Each player receives seven cards, but only the best five-card hand wins the pot. Depending on the rules of the game, players may be required to place an initial amount of money into the pot before the cards are dealt, called antes or blinds.

Once the cards are dealt, there is a round of betting that begins with two mandatory bets called blinds placed into the pot by the players to the left of the dealer. This is to encourage competition and make the game fun for everyone at the table.

After the betting round, each player must decide whether to fold or call their cards. A pair is a hand of two matching cards of one rank, and a three-of-a-kind is a hand with 3 matching cards of a certain rank. A straight is 5 consecutive cards of the same suit. A flush is a hand of any five matching cards, and a high card breaks ties.