Poker is a family of card games in which players try to make the best hand of five cards, based on the betting rules of the game. It is played around the world, in casinos, on the internet, and in private homes. The game was popularized during the early part of the 21st century through televised tournaments and online poker websites.

Players receive a number of cards facedown and must decide if they wish to show them or not. They may then discard up to three of their cards and bet the remaining cards in the pot. If the player does not show any of the cards, he may drop out of the pot.

A pot is the aggregate of all bets placed by all players in one deal. In a typical poker game, the pot is awarded to the player who has the highest hand.

Before the cards are dealt, each player is required to place a bet on the pot. This bet is called the ante. When a player bets more than the ante, he is said to raise.

After the ante is placed, the dealer cuts the deck and deals the cards to the players one at a time. Cards are then dealt clockwise. Each player is given a complete hand of five cards.

A showdown occurs after the final round of betting has been completed. If there is a tie, the highest unmatched card breaks the tie.