Poker is a game of chance and skill, played with cards and chips. It is one of the most popular gambling games in the world and can be played in many different forms, from cash tables to tournaments.

The game begins with a dealer dealing a deck of cards to each player. The dealer deals the cards in face-up or face-down rounds, depending on the variant of the game being played.

Players bet money into the pot during each round. The amount of the bet is determined by the rules of the particular form of poker being played. The bets are accumulated into a central pot, which is split between the players who are in contention for winning the hand.

When betting, players can choose to fold (shuffle their cards and not play), check (match the bet of the player in front of them), or raise (increase the amount of the bet and put more money into the pot). Those who raise must at least match the previous raiser’s bet to remain in the pot.

Most packs of cards include two jokers, which are used as wild cards in some types of poker. Some poker players add one or both jokers to their own hands to make them stronger, but this is not required.

There are three main families of poker: stud, draw, and texas hold’em. Each family has its own rules, but the basic goal is the same: a player must make the best five-card hand.