The game of poker is a card game with a wide range of variations. It is typically played by two or more players and involves betting between them. The best hand wins the pot. Players can also raise a bet, forcing other players to call it and potentially improve their own hands. Players may also bluff to win the pot, although this can be risky.

The highest hand is a royal flush, consisting of four matching cards of the same rank and five consecutive cards of the same suit. Other good hands include a straight, three of a kind, and a pair. A pair consists of two cards of the same rank plus one unmatched card.

Each player places an ante and is dealt five cards. Then the round of betting begins, with players deciding whether to discard one or more cards or “hold.” If a player holds a high card, they can raise a bet to compete for the pot.

When a player cannot match the last raise, they must either fold or make up the difference in their stakes. They cannot win more than the amount they have put into the pot unless their hand is the best.

The order of play changes for each hand, with the person to the left of the dealer acting first in clockwise direction. Often the first player to act is the one who has the dealer chip (shown on the left of the image) which represents their position.