Poker is a card game that is played in clubs, poker rooms, and casinos around the world. There are many versions of the game, but the basic rules are generally the same. Players have five cards to use, ranked from Ace to Ace.

Poker is one of the most popular card games in the United States, where it is also called the national card game. It is especially popular in North America and is played by tens of millions of people online.

The first player in the hand, known as the dealer, shuffles the deck and then deals face-down cards to the remaining players. He or she then reveals the cards and the betting begins. If a hand has two four-of-a-kinds of the same rank, the higher card wins.

A flop is a set of three face-up cards that are dealt after the first betting interval. This is followed by another round of betting.

After the last round of betting, a showdown occurs. Each of the players shows his or her cards and collects the pot.

In some poker variants, a “wild” card is used. These are cards that are not part of the official deck and are able to be used in any suit.

Most games of poker involve at least eight or nine players. However, there are many other games that allow more players, such as community card poker and stud poker.

Poker is usually played with a standard 52-card deck, but some games also utilize multiple packs.