Poker is a card game played by two or more players and involving betting between hands. The object is to win a pot, the sum of all bets made during one deal. This may be done by having the highest-ranking poker hand or by making a bet that no other player calls. Players may also try to misinform other players about the strength of their hands by using a variety of tells.
There are many different variants of the game, but most involve a small number of cards (typically 2–14) and some form of betting between players. A typical round of poker betting begins with each player having to place a forced bet, known as an ante or blind bet. The dealer then shuffles the cards, and each player receives two cards face-down (hidden from other players). These hidden cards are known as a player’s hole or pocket. The first phase of betting then starts, with the player to the left of the big blind placing their bet.
From this point, a player can call (bet money equal to or higher than the previous bet), raise (bet more than the previous bet), or fold (give up all his or her remaining chips). The last option is usually the best when it is clear that the player has no chance of winning. A player’s ability to make good decisions and to weigh the chances of a winning outcome is crucial to long term success in poker.