Poker is a card game in which players bet by placing chips into the center of the table, called a pot. The best 5-card hand wins the pot, or all bets placed during a given round. Players can also draw replacement cards to their hands during or after the betting rounds.

A poker game may involve 2-14 players, but the ideal number of players is 6. It is played in betting rounds, with each player having the chance to raise his or her bet on a given hand. Players must place a minimum amount of money to enter each betting round, called the buy-in.

After the shuffle and deal, each player places his or her bet, then the dealer deals each player one card at a time. Cards may be dealt face up or down depending on the variant being played.

The first player to place a bet in each betting round must either call or raise the previous player’s bet. If no one calls, the player must fold his or her hand.

The rules of poker vary between games, but most forms require forced bets from all players before the action begins. Then, players take turns clockwise around the table revealing their hands. Players can also choose to remain silent throughout the process. Poker experts are skilled at extracting signal from noise and integrating information across multiple channels to exploit their opponents and protect themselves. For example, they are adept at analyzing their opponents’ body language and facial expressions for tells.