Poker is a card game where players wager chips or cash on the outcome of their hands. The goal is to win all the chips in the pot by having the best five-card hand. It is often played in groups of people, but can also be played by two or more individuals against each other. A dealer, who is not necessarily a player, is responsible for shuffling the cards and dealing them to each person at the table. Depending on the rules of the game, the dealer may also have to collect and return the bets placed by other players.

If the person to your right makes a bet, you can either say “call” or “raise.” If you raise, you must place a minimum amount of money into the pot (usually called the betting interval) to stay in the hand. You can also say “fold” if you want to drop out of the hand without placing any more chips in.

A few participants reported losing all of their money in a single round, but most of them described a mix of early wins and losses. This suggests that while some players experience significant losses, most find the enjoyment of the game outweighs the risk of financial loss. Participants emphasized the positive aspects of poker, such as the challenge of making decisions with little knowledge of the outcome. They also found that learning about strategy and psychology helps them improve their game.