Poker is a card game of skill, strategy, and chance. It is played by two or more players and the object of the game is to win the pot, which consists of all the bets made during one deal. The pot may be won by having the highest-ranking hand, or by making a bet that no other player calls.

A poker hand consists of five cards. The rank of a hand is determined by its mathematical frequency, and the higher the frequency, the lower the ranking. A pair is the lowest-ranking hand, while three of a kind and a full house are higher. The highest hand is a royal flush, consisting of a Jack, King, Queen, and Ace of the same suit. If no other hand is made, a tie is broken by the highest unmatched card or second-highest pair (in case of a straight).

When betting occurs during a deal, players can choose to fold, call, raise, or check. To call, a player must make a bet equal to the amount raised by the player before them. If a player checks, they give up their hand and surrender any bets they may have made. The exception is when the player is bluffing, in which case they can bet that they have a superior hand even though they don’t. Bluffing is often successful if it is done correctly. Bluffing requires a high level of technical skill, as well as the ability to read the body language of other players.