Poker is a card game where players compete for the pot, which is the sum of all bets placed during a hand. A player can win the pot by having the highest-ranked poker hand at showdown or by placing bets that discourage other players from calling, leading them to fold. Poker is one of the few games in which players have a choice to make bets based on probability and psychology rather than just pure chance.

There are many different variations of poker, but the basic rules remain the same: each player is dealt two hole cards and a round of betting begins. Each player can fold, call (match another player’s bet), raise or check. When a player raises, they must put a certain amount of money into the pot. The dealer shuffles the cards, and each player takes turn in their seat at the table. Once everyone has their cards, the flop is dealt and another round of betting occurs.

Unlike chess, where information is fully visible, each poker hand is played with incomplete information. A skilled poker player will pick up bits of information about their opponents through a variety of channels, including eye contact, body language and gestures. This information is used to build a picture of the strength of a player’s hand and to bluff. In addition to the information that is available, players must deal with variance — the difference between the mathematically expected result and the actual results.