Poker is a card game in which players bet into a central pot and compete to make the best hand. It is played in many variations, and can be found in casinos, private homes, and at poker clubs.

A poker game begins with a deal, in which each player receives one card facedown (his hole card) and one card faceup. After the deal, a betting interval is held and the hands are revealed.

Each active player then bets or raises in turn, and betting rounds end when all players have bet an equal amount. If no opponents call, the player wins the pot.

There are many ways to play poker, but all games have a set of basic rules. Most of them follow the same basic structure, with a deal and a series of betting rounds.

Folding

A player may fold by surrendering their cards and placing them back into the pack. They may also check, which means they do not owe anything to the pot.

Calling

A call is a bet equal to the most recent bet or raise. It is used when a player wants to place more money in the pot than has been bet previously.

Raise

A raise is a bet more than the most recent bet or raise. It can be done by either placing more money in the pot or by removing a previous bet from the pot and adding the extra amount to the pot.