Poker is a card game that is played between two or more players and involves betting. The object of the game is to have the highest ranking hand at the end of a betting round. There are many different poker variants, but they all involve a similar set of rules. Players choose actions at each point in the game based on their knowledge of probability, psychology, and game theory. Some of these decisions are based on chance, while others are based on bluffing or analyzing tells, which are unconscious habits in body language that reveal information about a player’s cards.

Depending on the game, one or more players are required to place an initial amount of money into the pot before the cards are dealt. This is called a forced bet and comes in the form of an ante or blind bet. The players then compete to win the “pot,” which is the sum of all bets in a given deal.

When the dealer shuffles and cuts the deck, each player receives five cards. The cards may be dealt face up or down, depending on the game. After each deal, the first of several betting intervals begins.

The standard 52-card pack is used, sometimes with one or two jokers added. Occasionally, instead of using a single pack, a second pack of contrasting colors is used to speed up the game and make it easier for players to see their cards.