Poker is a card game played by two or more players for cash or chips. The goal is to have the best five-card hand at the end of the game. Poker is a complex game that requires skill and strategy. It is also a social game where the players interact with each other. It is important to know how to read your opponents and understand the tells that they give away.

The game starts with each player buying in for a set amount of chips. Usually, the first player to act places a forced bet, called an “ante” or a “blind.” After that, each player may call a raise or fold. Calling means that you match the amount of money raised by the person to your right. A raised bet means that you have a strong hand, while folding means that you are giving up on the round.

Cards are dealt in rotation clockwise around the table. The dealer has the last turn to deal and the last turn to raise. When the dealer is done, she can offer the shuffled pack to her opponent to her right for a cut. Any player who does not take a cut will have to offer the pack to another player in turn for a cut.

The deck of 52 cards includes a joker. The joker can count as a wild card for certain hands, including a flush (five consecutive cards of the same suit) and a straight.