Poker is a gambling game where players invest resources before they have full information. It is a game that can involve a lot of luck, but there are also strategies and tactics based on probability theory, psychology and game theory that can make it a profitable game for the long run. It is a game that requires reading your opponent well and understanding their tells in order to be successful. There are many types of poker players, ranging from the recreational player who thinks nothing of losing money so long as they have fun to the hard-core nit that hangs onto every chip for dear life. There is a huge range of skills needed to be a successful poker player, and only by learning them all can you become proficient at the game.

During a hand, players ante (a mandatory bet of some amount, usually around a nickel) and are dealt two cards face down. Then the first of several betting rounds takes place. During this time players may choose to raise the bet or fold. After the betting is completed, all players reveal their hands and the player with the best hand wins the pot.

The game is played with a standard deck of 52 cards. There are four suits: spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs. Each card has a rank, with Ace being high. Some games allow for Wild Cards, which can take on the rank of any other card and can be used as part of a higher or lower hand.