Poker is a card game in which players place bets against one another and share cards to form a hand. A hand ranks according to its mathematical frequency – the more unusual the combination, the higher the rank. Players can also make bluff bets, in which case they pretend to have a superior hand and hope that opponents will call them. Generally speaking, the better a player’s hand is, the more money they will win in the pot.

Before the first betting round, all players must contribute a forced bet (usually an ante or a blind bet). The dealer then shuffles the cards, and the player on their left cuts. The dealer then deals each player their cards, which are either face-down or face-up, depending on the variant of poker being played.

After the cards are dealt, the first of many betting rounds begins. The player with the highest poker hand at the end of the betting round wins the pot.

The basic poker hand consists of two personal cards plus five community cards. A full house beats a straight. A flush is any five cards of the same suit. A straight is any five consecutive cards. A three of a kind is a strong hand. The kicker (highest card) breaks ties.

If a card turns up face up during the dealing process, it is called an exposed card or hole card. The dealer should deal the next card normally. This is not considered a problem, as it is unlikely to affect the outcome of the hand. However, players are known to tip dealers who handle the situation calmly and professionally.