Poker is a card game in which the aim is to have the best hand out of five. To win the game, players place their ante into the pot. Once all other players fold, the remaining player collects the pot without showing his hand. If the pot is tied, the money bet during the hand goes to the player who has the best hand. If there are no ties, the pot is divided among the remaining players. This is known as a showdown.

The rounds of betting in Poker are divided into several levels. A player may play several rounds of betting while simultaneously developing several poker hands. Each round is characterized by a bet total. The bets are not placed directly into the pot, but toward it, until the round is over. At the end of the round, the bets are collected in the pot. The winning players are known as active players. Poker has become a worldwide phenomenon.

The game began in the 1850s. Players were dealt five face-down cards and the game ended with a showdown. Over time, however, draw poker became popular. In draw poker, active players may discard any card and replace it with a new one from the undealt portion of the pack. Players who do not want to draw cards are called “stand pat.” The showdown follows the draw process. Poker is played with five or more players in a game of three or more rounds.