Poker is a card game that can be played by two or more players. It has a number of variants, but they all share some features: each player puts in a mandatory bet, called an ante or blind bet, and then is dealt cards by the dealer. Bets are placed in rounds, with raises and re-raises allowed. The winner of each round is the player with the best five-card hand.

The game is usually played with betting chips, with each chip representing a specific amount of money. There are several different types of poker chips, but they all have the same value: a white chip is worth one minimum ante or bet; a red chip is worth five whites; and a blue chip is worth twenty-five whites. Players buy in for a certain amount of money, and the chips are passed around the table with each betting round.

The game has many nuances, and there are many strategies that can be employed. The skillful use of these strategies can eliminate the element of luck and make a player a consistent winner. In addition, poker can be a very social activity; players often talk to one another during the course of the game and even swap stories about previous hands they have played. Another important facet of the game is its psychology; every player has a “tell,” or unconscious habit that gives away information about his or her hand. These tells can be as simple as a change in posture or as complex as a gesture.