Poker is a card game in which players bet on the outcome of the hand. Each player puts in a fixed amount of money into the pot before being dealt cards. The player with the highest hand wins the pot, with the other hands sharing any winnings. The game of poker has a rich history and is believed to be an ancestor of other card games.
The game of poker is a game of chance, but it also requires a certain amount of skill and psychology. Unlike other casino games, poker involves betting where each player has to weigh his chances against those of others. This is especially true in high stakes games where the winnings can be millions of dollars.
In a game of poker, the first round of betting is triggered by mandatory bets called blinds put into the pot by the 2 players to the left of the dealer. After these bets are made, each player is dealt two cards face down (hidden from the other players). These hidden cards are called the hole or pocket cards and are used by the player to form his poker hand.
After the pre-flop betting phase, 3 more cards are dealt face up at the center of the table – these are called the flop. Another round of betting is then made, with the player to the left of the big blind acting first. A player may call, raise or fold during this phase of the game. If he calls, he must make a contribution to the pot that is at least equal to the total contributions raised by all players before him.