Poker is a card game played by two or more people and involves betting on the strength of a hand. It is a card game that relies on chance, but the long-run expectations of the players are determined by actions they choose based on probability, psychology, and game theory.

A game of Poker usually begins with one or more forced bets, known as the Ante and Blind. The dealer then shuffles the cards and deals them to each player, beginning with the player to his or her immediate left. Players then place bets into the pot, often raising after the first round of betting is complete. A single player may also choose to bluff, which can have a positive expected value when the opponent calls the bet and then shows a weak hand.

At the end of a betting interval, all players show their hands and the winner is awarded the pot. The pot may be shared among players with identical hands if the game is called a Draw or a Push. In most situations, however, a tie is broken by the kicker card, which determines which player has the highest-ranking pair.

Players may also establish special funds, known as the Kitty, to pay for new decks of cards and food. This fund is built up by “cutting” (taking) a low-denomination chip from each pot in which there are multiple raises. Any chips remaining in the Kitty at the end of the game are divided equally among the players who remain in the game.