Poker is a card game played by two or more players. Each player is dealt five cards and then bets on their chances of having a high-ranking hand. The winner of the hand claims a pot consisting of all the bets placed during the hand. The game originated in the United States and spread from there. It was popular among crews of riverboats transporting goods up and down the Mississippi River and later became a fixture in Wild West saloons.

In the long run, skill beats chance in poker. This is because bluffing in poker can be made much more effective by the use of good tells. It is important to study how other players play and learn their body language, betting behavior, and other factors that help them make decisions.

To begin a hand, the dealer deals three cards face up on the table. These are community cards that everyone can use. After this the players may raise, call, or fold their hands. The player who has the highest-ranked hand wins the pot.

A high-ranking hand consists of any 5 cards in sequence and the same suit. A full house consists of 3 matching cards of one rank and 2 matching cards of another rank. A straight consists of 5 consecutive cards of the same suit. A pair is two matching cards of the same rank and a third unmatched card.