Poker is a card game that can be played by two or more people. The optimal number of players is six or eight. The sum of all bets placed by players in a single deal is known as the pot. The player with the best poker hand or a bet that no other player calls is the winner of the pot.

The game of poker has a long history and is played in nearly every country around the world. Its origins are not known, but some say it may have originated in Persia. The earliest version of poker in Europe is believed to have come from the 17th century French game poque, which developed alongside the German game pochen and a version of the Spanish game primero. Later on, French settlers brought the game to the New World, where it became known as poker.

In most poker variants, the dealer is not one of the players. The dealer is indicated by a token that rotates clockwise from hand to hand. The initial round of betting involves forced bets. Players then have the option to bet with their own cards or fold their hand. Folding means losing any bets they have placed in the hand. Checking means declining to bet or reserving the right to make a bet later.

There are hundreds of different ways to play poker. Each casino has its own rules, but there are some basic rules that apply to all poker games. In general, players place an ante and a blind bet before the dealer deals their cards.