Poker is a card game in which players place bets on the probability that their cards form a winning combination. The game can be played with any number of players, but the ideal number is six to eight people. The object is to win the “pot,” or the total sum of all bets made during one deal, by having the best hand or by making a bet that no other player calls. There are many variants of Poker, but the game originated in North America and has become the most popular form worldwide, played in casinos, clubs, and over the Internet. It is also considered the national card game of the United States, and its play and jargon have permeated American culture.

The game begins with each player placing a forced bet, called an ante or blind bet (sometimes both). The dealer then shuffles the cards, and deals them to each player one at a time, starting with the person to their left. Cards may be dealt face-up or face-down, depending on the game. After each betting interval, a “showdown” occurs, in which all players reveal their hands and the best hand wins the pot.

While the outcome of any individual hand depends significantly on chance, the long-run expectations of a player are determined by their strategic decisions, which depend on their beliefs about their opponents’ strategies and their own strengths and weaknesses. For example, players who believe that their opponents are bluffing often raise their bets. Mathematical game theory provides a framework for understanding these strategic interactions, and it has been applied to diverse fields such as economics, computer science, decision making, and biology.