Poker is a card game in which players compete for an amount of money contributed by the players themselves (called the pot). Each player has a choice to invest resources in a hand without knowing its exact outcome. This choice is made based on expected value, psychology, and game theory. The player who holds the best 5-card hand wins the pot.

Before the start of the betting phase, each player places their bet (amount of money they are willing to risk). A player can also “raise” their bet, increasing the size of the wager on the next action. Players may also choose to pass on the chance to call a bet, called checking.

The flop is dealt 3 cards face-up to the table. These cards are community cards and everyone can use them to create their best 5-card poker hand. Each player has two personal cards in their hand, called hole or pocket cards, plus five community cards.

After the flop, players take turns clockwise around the table revealing their cards. Each revealed card is then placed into the pot and the final betting phase begins. A player can also draw replacement cards from the community cards to improve their hand, depending on the rules of the game.