Poker is a card game of chance that requires skill and strategy to win. It is played in homes, poker clubs, and casinos around the world, as well as online. It has been called the national card game of the United States, and its play and jargon permeate American culture.

When you start a game, each player puts an initial amount of money into the pot before cards are dealt. These are called forced bets and come in three forms: antes, blinds, and bring-ins. Usually the dealer will shuffle and cut the deck before dealing cards. At the beginning of each hand, the player to the left of the button becomes the first dealer. If two players have equal cards, a tiebreaker is used: the suits (spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs) are ranked in order of highest to lowest. The card with the higher suit is given to that player.

Once all players have 2 hole cards, a round of betting begins. The first bet is made by the players to the left of the button. Then the flop is revealed and another round of betting takes place.

After a winner rakes in the pot, the cards are re-shuffled and cut, and the button and blinds pass to the next player clockwise. It’s the responsibility of the dealer to make sure that all side pots are distributed correctly – this may involve the creation of multiple pots after one player has gone all in. In addition, if a player is behaving inappropriately or not adhering to proper gameplay etiquette, the dealer must warn them and/or call over the floor man.