Poker is a card game where players wager against each other. It is played in casinos worldwide and has been developed into a variety of forms that can be played by any number of players from 2 to 14.

The Rules

All poker variants are based on comparing cards, with each game having its own set of rules for determining the best hand. The rules vary in relation to deck configuration, the number of cards dealt face up or down, and the shared cards, but all are similar in that each deal involves one or more betting intervals.

The Pot

A pot is the sum of all bets made by all players in a specific round. It is won either by having the highest-ranking poker hand or by making a bet that no other player calls.

The Lowball

In many variants of poker the highest-ranking hand is awarded the pot; however, some games award the pot to the lowest-ranking hand. These games are often called “high-low split” games.

The Mental Game

A key aspect of any poker player’s mental game is their ability to control their emotions. This is a skill that can be learned and improved with practice.

Tells

Every poker player has a tell, which is a way that they communicate information about their hand to the other players at the table. These can be as simple as eye contact or as complex as a gesture. They are often unconscious habits that let other players know what you’re thinking and how confident or worried you are about your hand.