Poker is a card game in which players wager money over which hand is the best according to specific rules. It is played with cards, typically from a standard pack of 52.

Poker begins with a deal, which may take several rounds. Between rounds, the players’ hands develop in some way, often by being dealt additional cards or replacing cards previously dealt.

In each betting round, one player is required to make a forced bet (usually an ante) to contribute to the pot. Other players can call the bet or fold.

The bettor can also “check” to indicate that they do not wish to bet any further. If another player raises the bet, every other player has to call the new raise or fold.

Bluffing is a crucial skill in poker, as it allows players to win by making false claims about their hand while other players assume they have the better hand. This is a primary feature of the game, distinguishing it from other vying games and other games that use hand rankings.

The game is played with poker chips, usually in red, white, black, or blue, depending on the variant being played. The dealer assigns values to the chips prior to the start of the game and exchanges cash from the players for the appropriately valued chips.