Poker is a card game that requires skill and luck in order to be successful. It can be played in many formats including cash games and tournaments. The rules of the game can vary between these formats but many of the same strategies apply.

The objective of the game is to win the pot, or aggregate amount of all bets in a single betting interval. Players put chips into the pot when it is their turn to act, either by calling the previous player’s bet (“calling”) or raising that bet (“raising”). A player may also fold (“drop”) the hand, thereby losing all chips in that hand. The final showdown is when all players reveal their hands, and the player with the best hand wins the pot.

The game of poker is a great way to learn about decision making under uncertainty. In poker, as in life, you can’t know for sure what cards will be dealt, how other players will bet and play them, and what will happen next. However, you can make a reasonable estimate of the probability that different scenarios will occur. By considering all of these possibilities, you can decide how much to risk and how to win. This approach to decision making, known as “thinking in bets,” is a key to success at poker and in life.