Poker is a card game in which players place bets on the strength of their cards and on their understanding of the chances of making a winning hand. It is a game of chance, but the long-run expectations of the players are based on probability theory, psychology, and game theory. Players may also use bluffing tactics.
In most poker games there are 6 or more players. Each player receives 2 hole cards. A round of betting begins after the player to the left of the button posts a mandatory bet called a blind, and the player to his right must raise it. These forced bets give players something to chase and help generate the pot.
After the first betting round is complete a third card is dealt face up on the table, called the flop. This is a community card that everyone can use. Another round of betting begins, and then after this another card is dealt face up on the table, this time a “river” or fifth community card that everyone can use.
The person with the strongest five-card hand wins the pot. If no one has a winning hand, the pot is shared evenly between all active players. In addition to the pot, a player may bet for the right to stay in the hand by saying call or raise. If a player calls, he must place the same amount of money in the pot as the last person did.