Poker is a card game where players make bets against each other. The best hand wins the pot. In the first round, seven players are dealt cards. The best hand is the best five-card combination. In subsequent rounds, the players reveal their cards to each other. The winner of the game is the one who makes the best five-card combination.

Although the origin of poker is not known, most people believe that the game evolved from earlier card games. In 17th century France, a game called poque was invented. It evolved alongside the German game pochen and the Spanish game primero. Later, it made its way to the New World, where it is now known as poker.

Poker is a popular spectator sport, largely due to its ability to be played online. The invention of a hole-card camera, which makes poker tournaments possible even without the need for a land-based casino, has also helped spread its popularity. Its broadcasts have garnered huge audiences for cable and satellite television distributors. Despite the many variations of the game, the basic rules apply in most variants.

Each player receives two cards, which are called the hole and pocket cards. After the first deal, the dealer passes the deal to the player to their left. The first betting phase is started by the player to the left of the big blind. The center of the table is then dealt 3 cards, known as the flop. Each player uses these community cards to build their hand.