Poker is a card game that involves skill, chance, and gambling. Players place chips in a pot and bet against each other on the outcome of a hand, which depends mostly on initial random distribution of cards. A player can win a hand by getting a Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, or Three of a Kind.

The game is played by 2 or more people around a table, with one player acting as the dealer. A deck of 52 cards is shuffled and dealt to each player. The players then make bets on the possible combinations of their cards with each other, and with the community cards. The highest hand wins the round and the pot of money.

Before the betting phase begins, each player places an ante into the pot. This is called the pre-flop betting phase. After the ante has been placed, 3 additional cards are dealt face up in the center of the table. These cards are the flop and can be used by all players to create their poker hands.

Players may also choose to reveal their cards at this time if they wish. During the final betting phase, players reveal their hands in turn and the player with the best poker hand wins the pot. Players can also exchange cards during or after this period, depending on the rules of the poker game being played. These cards are known as replacement cards and can change the probability of a winning hand.