Poker is a card game played by two or more people. It involves placing an amount of money, called a buy-in, into the pot before players receive cards. Players can raise or lower their bets during each round. When the final hand is revealed, the player with the highest hand wins the pot.

There are a number of different poker variants, but the most popular is Texas Hold’em. In this game, each player is dealt two cards, called hole cards, face down. Five community cards are then dealt face up in stages. Players may then make bets on the strength of their cards and the cards in the community. Players can also bluff, which is a strategy that can help them win the pot.

The game has spread across the world, with many variations and rules. The earliest contemporary reference to the game was in J. Hildreth’s Dragoon Campaigns to the Rocky Mountains (1836), but it had probably been in use for some time prior to this. It soon spread to America, where the full 52-card English deck was used, and the flush became a part of the game.

To play poker, you will need to have a set of cards and a table. You will also need to decide how you are going to play the game. To start, you can try out some free online poker games. You can also find live tournaments and local events to participate in. Regardless of how you choose to play, it is important to know the rules and strategy of poker before you begin.