Poker is a card game where players have to weigh risk and reward. In poker, this means deciding whether to call or fold when other players bet on their hands. In life, this can mean weighing up how much you want to achieve and how much risk you are willing to take to get there. For example, not having the best starting hand in a job interview may still get you further than someone with a stronger CV if you are confident and can use your skills to make the most of the cards you have been dealt.

Poker can be played with anywhere from 2 to 14 players. Each player has a set amount of money, called chips, that they can bet with each round. The object of the game is to win the pot, which consists of all bets made during any one deal. This can be done by having the highest-ranking poker hand, or by making a bet that no other players call.

The rules of poker vary slightly between games. However, most poker games involve players betting a certain amount of money before the cards are dealt, called an ante or blind bet. Then each player is dealt two cards and has to make the best five card hand they can using these and the five community cards. Players can also bluff, and with luck even a bad hand can win. In addition to betting, poker involves reading the players’ physical tells, which are unconscious habits that give away information about their hand. These can include eye contact, facial expressions and body language.