Official Poker is the most popular game in casinos and online. It is a game of chance, skill and strategy.

Poker rules vary, but there are some fundamental principles that all players must know. These include how to raise and call a bet, when to fold and when to reveal your hand.

The main rule of official poker is that the best five-card hand wins. Each player must be able to make the best combination of their two cards and the five community cards that are dealt to the table.

Before the cards are dealt, each player must ante an initial amount of money into the pot. The amount of ante depends on the type of poker being played.

When everyone antes, the dealer deals the first set of cards and the betting begins. After a certain number of rounds, the cards are checked by all players and a showdown occurs.

A showdown is a period of betting that lasts for several minutes. At the end of this time, all players must reveal their hands face up on the table.

The winner of the showdown receives all the money in the pot. If a player does not show their hand, the other players must continue to ante in the same amount until one of them reveals his or her hand and the pot is split between all the remaining players.

It is important to memorize the poker hand rankings. They are a useful tool to help you understand the value of different poker hands. They also give you a general idea of what kind of hands other people might hold and how strong they are.