Poker is a card game in which players bet by raising or calling bets. It is one of the most popular card games, both in casinos and at home. Poker is a game of chance, but skill also plays an important role. Players can try to improve their chances of winning by studying the odds and probabilities of different situations. They can also learn how to make bluffs and read their opponents.

The aim is to win the pot, which is the sum total of all bets made on a single deal. A player can win the pot by having a high-ranking poker hand or by making a bet that no other player calls. There are many variants of poker, but the basic rules are the same for all of them. Depending on the game, players may be required to place an initial amount of money into the pot before they are dealt cards. This is called an ante, blind bet, or bring-in.

Some poker games have a button, which indicates who has the deal and is moved clockwise after each hand. The person to the left of the button acts first each time. In most cases, the dealer is not a player. The dealer is responsible for shuffling the deck and dealing the cards.

Some poker games have an all-in rule, which means that a player must put all of their chips into the pot in order to continue betting. This is usually done to protect the player’s hand from being exposed in a showdown.