Poker is a card game of strategy and chance, played by two or more players. It is often played in rounds, with betting occurring during each round. A player with the best 5-card hand wins the pot. This player can win all of the money that was put down as buy-ins at the table, or share it with other players who also have good hands.

The game starts with forced bets, which can be either an ante or blind bet (or both). The dealer then shuffles the cards and deals each player 2 cards face-down, hidden from other players. These cards are called a player’s hole or pocket cards. Then a series of betting phases begin, with each player acting in turn.

As the betting continues, more cards are dealt to the board. These are called community cards and can be used by all players to make a poker hand. These community cards can change the strength of a player’s hand, for example by giving them a straight or a flush.

A player can also improve his or her poker hand by hitting one of the needed cards on the turn and river. For example, if you have four hearts and a 5 shows up on the turn, you will be dealt a backdoor flush. This is a good way to improve your chances of winning the game.