Poker is a card game in which players independently try to assemble the best five-card hand. The game is traditionally played for cash (or poker chips), but it has become more of a spectator sport with the advent of online play and live broadcasts of major tournaments.

Each player puts up a small amount of money into the pot before they are dealt their cards. This is called an ante, blinds, or bring-ins and is usually required of all players.

Once everyone is ready to start betting, players take turns betting on their hand. The player with the highest hand wins the pot. If no one has a high enough hand, the pot is split.

Typically, the dealer wins any tie. However, this is not always the case and you can find games where players agree to share the pot if the dealer doesn’t win.

The most common hands are a straight, three of a kind, and two pair. A straight contains cards in consecutive rank, while a flush is any 5 cards of the same suit. Three of a kind is two matching cards of the same rank and one unmatched card. Two pair has two distinct pairs of cards and a high card, which breaks ties.

Knowing the odds of different hands is important for winning at poker. It is also helpful to understand what happens when your hand doesn’t win. Understanding these concepts will allow you to bet correctly. If you’re unsure of the rules of poker, ask your friends for help or read a book on the subject.