Poker is a card game that may be played by two to fourteen people. It is a gambling game in which the object is to win a pot (a sum of chips, representing money) by having the highest poker hand at the end of one or more betting rounds. There are many different variants of poker, with the number of cards dealt and betting rules varying by the game. Some games require a forced bet before the players receive their cards, called an ante or blind bet. In these cases, the player to their left must place a chip into the pot before being dealt their cards.

The game of poker is played in a variety of ways, from private homes to casinos and on the Internet. It has become the national card game of the United States and is widely popular in other countries. The game has even become a part of the American culture, with poker jargon and phrases arising in everyday speech.

Observing tells is important in poker. However, many players focus too much on unconscious tells and overestimate their importance. Instead, players should look for bigger, conscious tells such as how quickly a player calls a bet. A quick call usually means a strong hand, while a long time to call often indicates weakness. In addition, it is helpful to watch how a player handles their chips, as this can indicate how confident they are.