Poker is a card game that involves betting and strategy, and can be played by two or more players. It has been adapted into many different variants, but the basic principles are the same: each player attempts to win the “pot,” which is the sum of all bets made during a hand. The pot may be won by forming a high-ranking poker hand or by making a bet that no other player calls.
While the outcome of any particular hand involves significant amounts of chance, a player’s long-run expectations are determined by actions chosen on the basis of probability theory, psychology and game theory. The most important skill in poker is being able to read other players, which is often called reading tells. This can include facial expressions, body language and even breathing.
Before a hand begins, players must place an initial amount of money into the pot, which is known as an ante or blind. The amount varies by game, but is typically no more than a nickel. Players then place additional chips into the pot each time they act, either by calling or raising a bet. When a hand ends, any remaining chips in the pot are split among the players who still have a winning hand. The rules of the game usually require that all players contribute to a common fund, called the kitty, for expenses such as new decks of cards and food or drinks.
