Poker is a card game that is played around the world. It has a variety of rules, but it all revolves around the same goal: to have the best hand at the end of the game.

Generally, players start by placing an ante into the pot before any cards are dealt. This allows them to see their hands and bet accordingly.

Players may then bet additional amounts to raise the pot, and other players must call their bet or fold. In some variants, a player can also check, which means that they don’t want to make any further bets.

The most common type of poker is Texas hold ’em, which is played with cards and chips. It is usually played with a single deck of 52 cards, although it can also be played with two or more decks.

Variants of the game vary in how many cards are used and whether cards are drawn from a deck or from the community cards. The game can be played with any number of players from 2 to 14, and it is often played in tournaments.

A standard poker hand consists of five cards, with the highest hand winning the pot. Some games have different hand rankings or divide the pot between the highest and lowest hands.

While there are various versions of the game, most variants involve dealing cards and distributing them face up to each player, followed by a betting interval. Then, a showdown is held to reveal the hands of all the active players.