Poker is a card game in which players compete to assemble the highest-ranking hand of cards in order to win cash or chips. It requires both luck and skill to be successful, although over time the application of skills can eliminate much of the variance caused by chance. Articles about Poker can include anecdotes and techniques used during play, such as tells (unconscious habits displayed by a player during gameplay that reveal information about their hand).

Before the cards are dealt, one or more players must place an initial amount into the pot, which is called an ante, blind, or bring-in, depending on the rules of the particular poker variant being played. Once all players have acted, the poker hand is revealed and the player with the best poker hand wins. During the betting rounds, each player must either call (match or raise) the bet of the player to their left in turn, or fold. If a player calls, they are committed to continuing to play that round.

While the outcome of any single hand involves a large degree of chance, a player can increase their chances of winning by making calculated decisions based on probability, psychology, and game theory. This is especially true if the player is bluffing. As with life, it is not always the strongest starting hand that wins; tenacity and courage can sometimes triumph over a weaker but persevering person. This is why poker is considered a game of skill as well as luck.