Poker is a card game that is played in betting rounds by individuals competing for an amount of money or chips contributed by each player. This total is commonly known as the pot. Individuals may participate in poker from home or casino, and can play either cash games or tournament events. The rules of poker can vary slightly from one game to another. In general, players have two hole cards and three community cards that they combine to make a five-card poker hand. The highest hand wins the pot. Some games also include wild cards which can take on any suit or rank that the possessor wishes.

The original game of poker is believed to have originated around New Orleans in the 1810s or early 1820s. It probably evolved from a tri-card game known as Poque. This game was played in gambling saloons on the Mississippi river and its inland tributaries.

A dealer button is used in poker games to indicate a player who is entitled to deal the cards in a particular round. This is not a requirement in all games, but it is typical in the more formalized poker games.

A poker hand must be completed by the player who is seated nearest the dealer button at the time of the deal. Players may check, call the bet of another player, raise or re-raise, or fold. After each betting round, the remaining cards are revealed and a new hand is formed.