Originally called poque, poker is a family of card games that is played in clubs, casinos, private homes and on the Internet. Poker is often referred to as the national card game of the United States.

Poker is played with a deck of cards, usually a 52-card deck. The dealer shuffles the deck and deals cards to each player in turn. After each round, players are allowed to discard up to three cards.

Poker games vary in the amount of cards each player shares, the number of cards dealt and the deck configuration. Poker games also vary in the number of betting rounds. In most games, a player must make a blind bet before being dealt cards.

Poker can be played with any number of players, though the ideal number is around eight to nine. The game has a showdown when more than one player is left in the pot. The highest hand wins the pot. Poker is a game of chance, but skill is needed to win. Players make decisions based on game theory, psychology and odds.

A poker hand is made up of five cards. The highest possible hand is five of a kind, which can be achieved with a wild card. Other poker hands are four of a kind, two pairs and a straight. A straight is a combination of five cards of the same suit.

A player may bluff, which is when a player makes a bet that they have the best hand. This can result in a win, but it can also lead to a loss.