Poker is a card game that requires both skill and luck to win. It is played with cards and chips and can be a cash game or a tournament game. It has many variations, but all involve betting on a hand of five cards. A player may also make a bluff during a hand.

A dealer shuffles the cards, and each player cuts once. Then the cards are dealt, one at a time, starting with the player on the button (or first player to the left of it). Cards may be dealt face up or down, depending on the variant being played. Each player is required to place an initial amount of money into the pot, called forced bets or antes.

After the players have two hole cards, there is a round of betting, starting with the player on the button. During the betting, players can choose to check (pass on betting), call (match or raise the previous bettor’s bet), or fold their hand.

After the flop, there is a third community card, called the turn, which is revealed and another round of betting occurs. If no one has a high enough hand to win the main pot, players may decide to continue betting into various side pots. The player with the highest-ranking hand wins the main pot. The rest of the side pots are then distributed among the remaining active players. Some side pots have a single winner, while others are shared by several players who each place a bet into the pot.