Poker is a card game played by 2 or more players with a common goal of winning money from the other players. This can be achieved by making a winning hand, or by placing a bet higher than the amount other players place in order to force them to fold. The winning player takes all the money that was placed in the pot. Depending on the variant of the game, there may be rules about how this money is then shared after the game is over.
Each round of betting begins after all players have been dealt two cards face down. The player to the left of the dealer places a mandatory bet called blinds into the pot. Players then have the option to raise their bets. Players can also bluff and pretend to have a weak or strong hand, although this is risky. A player can also choose to fold, which means they will give up their hand and drop out of the game.
The fifth and last card is then dealt face up. There is another round of betting, and the player with the highest five-card poker hand wins the pot. A player can also win a side pot by placing a bet that other players call. When a player calls a bet, they must increase their stake to equal the total amount raised by the players before them. If a player cannot meet this amount, they must fold and forfeit their chance of winning the pot.