Poker is a card game where players bet on their hands and compete to earn the most money. It can be played by any number of people from two to 14, but most common forms are games for six to eight players.
The Rules
A player begins the hand by placing an ante into the pot (usually a small amount like $1 or $5). He then receives two cards face down, which he must keep secret from the other players.
During a betting round, the player may choose to “fold,” which means that he will not bet again in this round; “check,” which matches other players’ bets; or “raise,” which adds more money to the pool.
When all of the players have made their bets, a hand is dealt to each player and a showdown takes place. During this process, a player who has the best hand wins the pot.