Poker is a card game for two to 14 players in which bets (in the form of chips) are placed and the player with the highest-ranking poker hand wins the pot. The pot is the sum of all bets made in a single deal. Players may choose to place their chips into the pot voluntarily, or they can be forced to do so by the actions of other players. The rules of poker allow for strategies based on probability, psychology, and game theory.

The first step in the poker game is to ante up some money, called the ante bet. Players are then dealt a set of cards. The person to the left of the dealer acts first, followed by each player clockwise around the table. Once all players have had a chance to act, the final betting round takes place. The player with the best five-card hand wins the entire pot for that round.

The best hand consists of four cards of the same rank (such as a straight), three of the same suit, or two pairs. There are also different types of side cards that help formulate a hand, such as kickers, which are not used to make a specific rank but can boost the strength of a hand. In addition to learning the rules of poker, it is important for a poker writer to study and observe other experienced players in order to develop and refine their own playing style and instincts.