Poker is a card game played by two or more players. Its rules differ slightly from one region to another. The game is characterized by betting between rounds and by the use of bluffing. It has a long history and may have been developed from the Renaissance game of primero or the French game poque. It is also thought to be related to the English game brag, which incorporated bluffing.

Before the cards are dealt, players place mandatory bets called blinds in a common pot. These bets provide an incentive for players to play. The player to the left of the dealer acts first in each round of betting, and may raise his or her bet if desired. If a player raises, the other players may choose to call or fold.

After the flop, there is another round of betting. Then, 3 more cards are revealed face up on the table, known as the turn. This is the final chance for players to check, raise or fold.

The highest hand is a royal flush, which contains 4 matching cards of the same rank and five consecutive cards of the same suit. The second highest hand is a straight, which contains 5 consecutive cards of the same rank but from different suits. The lowest hand is a pair, which consists of two matching cards of the same rank. Players can also have 2 of a kind, which is made up of two cards of the same rank and one unmatched card.