Poker is a card game which requires a little luck and skill. A normal 52-card deck is used, and players make bets on their poker hand. The winner of the game is the player who holds the best hand.
Players may use chips made of various materials, or they may bet with coins. Chips are generally smaller and easier to handle than coins.
Three of the most common poker structures are no limit, fixed limit, and pot-limit. Fixed-limit requires standardized bets, while no-limit allows a player to wager as much as he or she wants.
The pot-limit structure is a little more complicated. It allows bets of any size, and it is also possible to make a forced bet, also known as the ante.
Another variation, the five-card draw, involves a series of betting rounds. Each round, a player must make a bet, then discard a card. If the bet matches, he or she can raise the bet.
Finally, the showdown occurs. The player who holds the best hand takes the pot. In some variations, the pot is split between the highest and lowest hands.
The Wikimedia Commons has many media related to poker. Some of these may help you learn more about the game.
There are also various websites and books dedicated to the history and lore of poker. A great one is Starting in Poker, by Stewart Reuben. Alternatively, you could visit idnplay.com, which offers a variety of poker games.