Poker is a type of card game played all over the world. It is played in private homes, casinos, and clubs. The number of players and cards in play vary from game to game. It is usually a vying game, and the winner is determined by the best hand. The player with the highest ranking hand wins the pot.

Each player is dealt a hand of five cards, either face down or face up. These cards are arranged clockwise around the table. The dealer, who is also a player, has the last right to shuffle the cards.

Before the first betting round begins, a player may have to place an ante, a forced bet, or a blind bet. A forced bet is a bet that the player is not able to see the other players’ cards. The ante is an amount the player puts into the pot in anticipation of being called by the player before him.

The betting round is completed when all but one player folds. The remaining player then collects the pot without revealing the hand. The player who folds loses their rights to the original pot.

The game is often played with several rounds, each followed by a showdown. In most games, the lowest possible hand is 7-5-4-3-2 in two or more suits. In some games, the ace is treated as the lowest card.

Poker is played in many variations, but the basic rules are fairly common. Poker is often referred to as a “family” of comparing card games, and the name likely comes from a French word for the game.