What is Poker?

Poker is a card game played by two or more players on a table. A player wins the pot (the amount of money bet in a round) by having the best hand. Players reveal their hands at the end of the round, called “showdown.” The higher the hand rank, the more likely it is to win. A player may raise his own bet to increase the size of the pot; others can choose whether to call or fold.

The game is based on the standard 52-card deck; some variant games use more cards, add jokers, or have other rules. Cards are ranked from high to low: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2. Each game also has a special rule regarding how many cards must be in a winning hand.

As the game progresses, players may “check” (pass on betting), raise their own bet to match or exceed another’s, or call other players’ raises. If they don’t call a bet, they “fold.” If they bet, their chips go into the pot and they’re out of the round.

Poker is a fast-paced game with much to learn, from probability calculations and strategy to social skills. Aspirant players watch other players’ behavior to glean insights on the right way to play. Observing is not a substitute for in-person knowledge, however, and even the best players have “tells” — unconscious habits that give away information about their hand.