Poker is a game of chance and skill, but it’s also a social event that can be fun for everyone. The game is based on a series of betting rounds, each ending when all players have either called or folded.

To begin, each player receives a pack of cards from the dealer. Those cards are shuffled and dealt face up to the left in rotation, one at a time. The first player to the left of the dealer deals the next round, and so on.

The game’s objective is to make the best possible hand using five cards. The highest-ranking hand wins the pot. If two or more players have the same hand, ties are broken by the higher unmatched card (a high card), secondary pairs, or straights.

There are hundreds of different variants of poker, but all share several essential characteristics. In most versions, the rank of a poker hand is determined by its odds (probability).

Some players may be required to place an initial amount of money into the pot before the cards are dealt. These bets are known as antes, blinds, and bring-ins.

Once the cards are dealt, the first player to the left of the dealer must make a bet. This bet must match the previous player’s maximum bet.

After this, each player to the left of the dealer must call or raise this bet. They can do this by putting into the pot as many chips as the previous player or by putting in more than the previous player put in.