Poker is a card game that can be played by two or more players. Players must place chips (representing money) into a central pot, with each player betting in turn on the strength of their cards.

Players can also choose to check, meaning that they pass on placing any chips into the pot; or to call, meaning that they will raise a previous player’s bet by an amount determined by their opponents. Alternatively, a player can fold, which means that they will forfeit their hand.

The game’s popularity is partly due to its underlying themes of risk and reward. Taking risks in poker can pay off, and building comfort with such risks is important to the success of a player. It is also important to keep an eye on your opponents and look for tells, which are unconscious habits that reveal information about a player’s hand. These can include body language, eye contact, and facial expressions.

A hand of poker consists of one or more distinct pairs and the highest pair wins the hand. A pair can consist of any combination of two cards of the same rank (ex: Two sixes), or two matching cards of different ranks. A high card breaks ties in case of identical hands.

Once the flop is dealt, there are usually several rounds of betting. Each round is based on the specific rules of the poker variant being played. During each round, one player is required to make a forced bet, either an ante or a blind bet.