Poker is a card game in which players place bets to win money. Players can also bluff. While the outcome of any particular hand largely involves luck, long-term expectations for each player are determined by their actions chosen on the basis of probability, psychology and game theory.
Each player pays a buy-in amount to enter the game, usually with chips. Each chip has a specific value: a white chip, for example, is worth one minimum ante or bet; a red chip is worth five whites; and so on. Depending on the rules of the game, players may also exchange chips for higher values.
After the blinds are placed, each player is dealt 2 cards face-down (hidden from other players). These are called a player’s hole or pocket. The player to the left of the button then places a bet. Players can then choose to call, raise, or fold.
When the flop is revealed, another betting phase begins. The flop contains community cards that are available to all players. Using these, each player constructs a 5-card poker hand.
The best 5-card poker hand wins the pot. If there is a tie, the pot is split between the players with the best hands. In some cases, however, the winner will win all of the money that was bought into the game. Depending on the rules of the game, some or all of the remaining players may agree to contribute to a “kitty,” which is used to pay for things like new decks of cards and food and drink.