Poker is a card game in which players place bets (representing money) into a central pot, with the highest hand winning. The game is played with a standard pack of cards, although some games add extra cards or use wild cards. The game is primarily played by a group of individuals sitting around a table, although some games are played in tournaments with participants scattered across the room or country. The game is also popular online.
Unlike other gambling games, where forced bets are made to create an incentive for players to place bets, in poker, most bets are placed voluntarily by players on the basis of expected value and strategic considerations. Typical decisions include raising, calling, and folding. Players may also bluff, with the goal of intimidating other players into believing that they have a superior hand when in fact they do not.
After each player has received his or her two hole cards, the first of what can be several betting rounds begins. Each player must place at least the amount of money bet by the person to his or her right into the pot before he or she is allowed to act.
A betting round ends when all players have either folded, called a raise or raised their bet and called a raise. Then, the dealer shuffles, cuts, and deals each player a new set of cards face-up. The player to the left of the dealer places the first bet, and then each player has the option of betting again in turn.