Poker is a card game of chance that is played in many variants worldwide. It is widely considered to be the national card game of the United States, and its playing and jargon permeate American culture. It is often played in private homes, card clubs, and casinos, and it has been televised and is available on the Internet.

The goal of the game is to win a pot (the sum of the bets placed in the center of the table) by having the highest-ranked hand at the end of the betting rounds. Players may also win by bluffing, a strategy that involves betting that one has a superior hand when one does not.

Each player places a bet in the pot in turn. When it is a player’s turn to bet, he must either call the bet made by the previous active player, raise it, or fold. When he calls the bet, he places chips or cash in front of him for the dealer to count and add to the pot.

When a player does not have a strong enough hand to continue betting, he can say “check” or “fold.” If he checks, he is indicating that he has no intention of continuing in the hand and does not want to see the remainder of the cards. If he folds, he gives up his cards to the dealer face-down. He is then free to leave the game or join another hand.