Poker is a card game in which players wager money, called chips, on the outcome of a hand. The object of the game is to win the pot, which consists of all bets made during one deal, by having the best poker hand. Players may also place a bet without holding a hand by calling (matching) the bet of another player. This is known as bluffing. The success of a bluff depends on the skill of the player, as well as how much his opponents know about his intentions.
The rules of poker vary from variant to variant, but most have a minimum of two betting intervals per deal: an ante and a blind bet. The cards are dealt in a clockwise direction, starting with the player to the dealer’s left. The dealer shuffles the cards, and then offers them to the player on his right for a cut. Then, in turn, each player places chips into the pot according to the rules of the specific game.
The game is usually played by a small group of people around a table, but it can be played by more than six. The game is fast-paced, with players placing bets constantly until someone has all the chips or everyone folds. A player can also “check” if he does not wish to bet. This pass on his turn to act allows him to see what other players have before making a decision.