Poker is a card game in which players wager money, called chips, on the outcome of the hand. The objective is to win the pot, which is the sum of all bets placed by all players during a deal. The pot is won by having the best five-card poker hand or by betting and raising enough to scare off other players with weak hands. A player can also choose to fold his or her cards if he or she doesn’t want to raise any more.

There are many different poker games, but all share a similar general structure. The game begins with 2 mandatory bets (called blinds) placed by the players to the left of the dealer. Then a round of betting begins, where players may call, check, or fold. Once all players have made a decision, a new set of cards are dealt. A round of betting ends when all players have either folded, called, or put all their remaining chips into the pot (called an all-in bet).

Observation plays a key role in poker. Experienced players are able to read the body language of their opponents to determine if a player is bluffing or has an unbeatable hand. This skill is referred to as reading tells. Tells can include a player’s breathing pattern, facial expressions, hand movements, manner and content of speech, and other factors.

In the early 20th century, poker became popular in the United States and was introduced to other countries. It was originally a gambling game only played by men, but by the 1920s it had become a popular social activity for both women and men.