Poker is a card game of chance and skill that has become a worldwide phenomenon. It is played in a variety of ways with a variety of rules. It is a game of betting where strong hands can win and bluffing is often successful.

Before a hand begins, each player must contribute an amount of money to the pot, called an ante. This money is used to determine the winning hand in the end. The highest-ranked hand wins the pot.

The dealer then puts a fifth card on the board that everyone can use, called the river. After the river is flipped, each player gets another chance to bet, check or raise. If no one calls, the players show their cards and the person with the best hand wins the pot.

In order to play poker, you must have a good understanding of the game’s terminology. In poker, there are several terms you will hear frequently and some of them have special meanings. For example, when someone says “call,” this means they want to make a bet that is equal to the previous player’s bet. If you have a good hand, you can also say “raise” to increase your bet. This will cause the other players to call or raise their own bets. If you don’t have a good hand, you can fold, which will end your turn.