Poker is a game of skill and strategy that uses cards. It is played by several people at a table with chips. The player who has the highest hand wins the pot. A poker game can be played with any number of players, but it is best to have at least eight or nine players.
Poker is usually played with a deck of 52 cards. Typically, four of the cards are dealt face up and the rest are dealt face down. Players can discard up to three of their cards before revealing their hand.
During a betting round, all players but one are required to fold. If a player folds, they forfeit their forced bet. When it is their turn to act, they may raise or call. Alternatively, they can decide to draw.
There are hundreds of different variations of poker, and many are played online. Some of these variations involve a separate side pot. These side pots may be won by a player who is not in the main pot. In some games, the main pot is split evenly among multiple players.
One of the first forms of poker in Europe was probably the 17th-century French game poque. Another form, called stud, was introduced during the American Civil War. Several other versions were later developed, including three-card brag. Today, many players prefer to use chips instead of cash. This makes it easier to keep track of chips and makes it less expensive to change them.