Poker is a card game played between a group of people. Players reveal their cards, and whoever has the best five-card hand wins the pot. The highest hand is the royal flush, which consists of four matching cards of the same rank and five consecutive cards of the same suit. The next highest is a straight, which consists of five consecutive cards of the same rank. Other hands include three of a kind, two pairs, and high card.

When playing poker, it is important to keep a balance between aggressive and passive play. Taking on too much risk can lead to major losses. Similarly, playing too conservatively can limit your profits. It’s also important to know how to read other players. Conservative players often fold early, while aggressive players will bet high amounts.

After dealing the cards, a betting round begins. Each player can choose to call (match the previous active player’s bet), raise, or check. Players may also fold their cards at any time during a hand.

Once everyone has made their decisions, the dealer counts up all of the chips in the main pot and any side pots. Then, the dealer distributes these chips between all of the winners. If a player has all in and nobody raises their stake, the winner receives the full amount of their stake plus any side pot winnings. If the player’s total stake is less than that of the last raiser, they must match that amount to stay in the hand.