Poker is a card game where players try to make the best hand possible from the cards they have. There are hundreds of variations on this popular game, but the core rules remain relatively consistent.
Poker consists of several rounds of betting, and each round is separate from the previous one. The first round, called the ante, is a small bet that all players must contribute before any cards are dealt.
Next, a player who is not in the main pot (or hasn’t folded) must place an amount of money in the pot, known as a blind, before he receives his cards. This is a type of forced bet and can be either a big blind or a small blind.
Another type of forced bet is a bring-in, which requires that the person to the right of the dealer put money in the pot before the hand is dealt. This is a variation on the blind and can be used in both tournament and cash games.
There are also several types of antes, each corresponding to different wagering requirements and rules. These can be a fixed amount, a percentage of the total pot, or a predetermined amount based on the size of the pot.
The flop, turn, and river are the three community cards that all players must use to make their hands. During these rounds, players may check, fold, or raise their bets, depending on the rules of the particular game.