Poker is a card game in which players wager money on the outcome of a hand, and where bluffing is often an important strategy. It is generally referred to as a game of chance, but the long-term expected value of a player’s actions are determined by probability, psychology and game theory.

A standard game of poker is played with two or more players. There are rules for how much a player must put in before being allowed to raise, and this amount is called the pot. The objective is to win the pot by having the highest-ranking poker hand or by making a bet that no one else calls. A player may also opt to fold his or her cards.

Once all the players have two hole cards, a round of betting begins, starting with the player to the left of the dealer. One more card is then dealt face up, and this is called the flop. Another round of betting then takes place, and the player with the strongest hand wins.

Ties are broken by the highest unmatched card or secondary pairs (in a full house). Occasionally, there is a wild card, which changes the ranking of certain hands.

Poker is often played in tournaments, with each match having a small number of competitors. This is common in sports and games where there can be only a few competitors per match, such as team sports, racket sports, combat sports, many board games and competitive debating.