Poker is a card game that requires a combination of luck and skill to win. Initially, a player puts money into the pot (or ante) to be dealt cards. They may then raise or lower their bets during each round of betting. When the final betting round has concluded, the highest hand wins all the chips at the table. In addition, there are often rules in place governing how the remaining players share the winnings.

A full house contains 3 matching cards of 1 rank and 2 matching cards of another rank. A flush consists of 5 consecutive cards of the same suit. A straight contains 5 cards of consecutive rank but from different suits. A pair consists of two matching cards of the same rank.

In many games, a dealer is responsible for shuffling the deck and dealing the cards. They are also usually the first to act and can raise or lower their bets during each betting round. Some poker games have multiple dealers, while others designate a single dealer who is responsible for all betting decisions. In most cases, a player must be present to act as a dealer.

Many successful poker players are able to read the tells of other players, or unconscious habits that reveal information about their hands. This can be done through body language, eye contact and facial expressions. In addition, a good poker player knows how to use probability and psychology in their decisions.