Poker is a family of comparing card games. It is played with a standard deck of 52 cards. Players compete against other players for the best hand and bet on it. There are many variations of the game, and the rules may vary between countries.

A typical poker game involves a number of rounds. Each round begins with the dealer dealing cards to the players. The player with the best hand at the end of the round wins the pot. During the final round, players can make more than one bet on their hands. Some variations may award the pot to the lowest hand.

When a bet is placed, the player must match it. They also have the option of raising it. If they raise it, the previous bet is added to the pot. This is called a forced bet. In most modern forms of poker, a forced bet is a blind bet.

Another form of betting is the all-in, which enables players to show their hands in order to win the remaining chips in the pot. Most poker players use ceramic chips and count them after each bet to determine who won.

A final round of betting is known as the showdown. After all cards are revealed, the winning hand takes the pot.

Many people consider the name “poker” to be derived from the French poque, which means “a buck.” Other origins of the word are unknown. Perhaps it traces to a game that originated in New Orleans.