Poker is a card game in which players wager chips (representing money) against each other. The game is based on probability and psychology, with good players effectively predicting opponent hands in order to make profitable long-term decisions.
Each player begins by placing an initial amount of money into the pot, which is called buying in. This is usually an amount equal to the minimum ante or bet for the variant being played. Depending on the rules of the game, some players may also have the privilege or obligation to place an additional bet in turn before their cards are revealed. These are called forced bets and come in the form of antes, blinds or bring-ins.
A deal of five cards follows, with each player aiming to create the best possible poker hand from their two personal cards and the five community cards on the table. The highest poker hand is the royal flush, consisting of four matching cards of the same rank and five consecutive cards of the same suit. The next highest hand is a straight, and the lowest is a pair.
If a player doesn’t have a high enough hand to win, they may choose to fold. Otherwise, all players reveal their cards and the player with the highest ranked hand wins the pot and all bets made so far. In case of a tie, the highest card breaks the tie. A player may also raise their bet in order to encourage others to call.