Poker is a card game in which players bet money on the outcome of a hand. The aim is to win the pot, which is the sum total of all the bets made during one deal. Poker can be played by two to fourteen players. The game is fast-paced and the action is often intense. Players can choose to call (match the bet of the previous player), raise (amount higher than the previous bet) or fold.

The cards are dealt face down to each player. There is then a round of betting, starting with the player to the left of the dealer. After the bets have been placed, the fifth card is dealt face up – this is called the river. Another round of betting then takes place, with the player with the highest hand winning the pot.

Although there is a large element of luck involved in the game, over time, skill can almost eliminate that luck. This is mainly because of the twin elements of probability and psychology that govern the game. A good poker player will weigh up the chances of winning against the cost of losing, in order to maximise profit (or minimise losses). This is known as ‘thinking in bets’.