Poker is a card game played by two or more people. Players place chips (representing money) into the pot and then compete to make the best five card hand using their own two cards and the community cards. Betting occurs after each round of dealing, and a player may choose to raise or fold his or her cards.

To start the game, each player antes some amount (varies by game). Then they are dealt a set of cards and a round of betting begins. Each player has the option to call, raise or check (pass on putting money into the pot). In addition to raising their own bets, players may also bluff, hoping that they will convince other players that they have a strong hand.

A poker hand consists of five cards and the value of each card is in inverse proportion to its frequency. The more uncommon the combination, the higher the poker hand. The best hands are a pair of kings or a royal flush.

Poker is a game of chance, but the element of betting adds considerable skill and psychology. In particular, a good poker player needs to be able to read other players and pick up on their tells – unconscious habits that reveal information about their hand. These can be as simple as a change in posture or as complex as a gesture. Describing a series of card draws, bets and checks can get lame or gimmicky very quickly, so focus on the reactions of the players – who flinched, who smiled and so on.