A card game with many different variants, poker is played between two or more players and focuses on making the best five-card hand. The object is to win the pot, which is a sum of all bets placed during a deal. There are various ways to win the pot, including having a high-ranking hand or by bluffing. Unlike casino games, in which players are forced to put money into the pot, bets in poker are voluntarily made by players who believe that their bet has positive expected value or who wish to bluff other players for strategic reasons.

During the deal, the dealer places cards face down in front of each player. Each player then acts in turn, deciding whether to check (pass), call the minimum bet, or raise. In most poker games, the player to the left of the button takes the action first. The button rotates clockwise after each hand.

After each round of betting, the remaining players show their hands and the player with the highest hand wins the pot. A player may also choose to fold his or her hand if they believe it is low in value.

One of the most important aspects of playing poker is understanding how to read tells. A player’s facial expressions, body language, and mannerisms can reveal a lot about their strength of a hand. For example, an apathetic gaze is often indicative of a weak hand, while a tight poker face usually indicates a strong one.