Poker is a family of card games in which players compete against each other to obtain the highest hand. They are played worldwide, with rules varying by country.

The game begins with the dealer dealing cards to each player, one face down and two face up. The dealer distributes these cards to the active players in clockwise order, beginning with the player with the lowest hand. The game continues until all the players have had a chance to bet or fold.

Bets are placed into the pot during betting intervals, which vary according to the specific poker variant. In these intervals, each player must place the number of chips (representing money) that he expects to win to make his total contribution to the pot at least equal to that of the player before him.

When betting is completed, the highest hand wins the pot. If no one has a high hand, the highest card is used to break ties.

Poker is a game of chance, but it can also be played with skill and psychology. It’s also a good way to learn about uncertainty and decision-making.

It’s a lot of fun!

If you want to get started playing poker, you’ll need to know how to bet. There’s an ante and a big blind. You can learn more about these by reading a book, or by playing with a group of people who know how to play.