Poker is a card game in which players wager money on the outcome of a hand. It is a game of chance, but the skillful use of probability calculations and strategic thinking can give a player an edge over other players. Players can also learn valuable lessons in life from playing poker, such as how to make good decisions and when to bluff.

During the first betting phase, each player places an initial amount into the pot. These are known as forced bets and come in the form of antes, blinds or bring-ins. Each player then receives five cards, and the person with the best poker hand wins the pot. In some cases, players may discard and receive new cards before the final betting round is complete.

In the earliest known form of the game, poker was played with a single 20-card pack evenly distributed amongst four players. Players placed bets on a narrow range of combinations, including one pair, two pair, three of a kind, a straight and a flush. The game spread throughout the Wild West, and by the 1870s had reached Europe. Around this time, the full 52-card English deck was introduced, and a wide variety of poker variants became available.

When a player wants to add more money to the pot, he or she says “raise.” Other players can choose to either call the raise or fold. A raise must equal the total amount that has been staked thus far by other players.