Poker is a card game played for money by two or more players. There are many variations of the game, but all involve betting and a final hand to determine the winner. The game can be played socially for pennies or in casinos for thousands of dollars. Regardless of the amount, there is great skill involved in winning poker.

The object of the game is to win the pot, which is the sum total of all bets made during a single deal. This is done by obtaining the highest-ranking poker hand or by making a bet that no one calls. A standard poker hand consists of five cards of the same rank (aces, kings, queens, or jacks) in sequence and of the same suit. Ties are broken by the highest unmatched cards or secondary pairs (in a full house [a poker hand consisting of three matching cards of one rank and two matching cards of another rank] or four of a kind).

There is a large variation in the number of players in a poker game, but in most forms the ideal number is six or seven. Each player has to pay an ante or blind bet before the dealer deals them their cards. The players then place their bets into a central pot. The cards are dealt in rotation, starting with the player to the left of the dealer. If a jack is dealt, the player may choose to cut the pack.