Poker is a card game that involves betting between players, using cards dealt in a random order. Each player may choose to call, raise or fold a hand in accordance with the strategy of the game and each bet contributes to an ever-increasing pot. The player with the highest ranked hand when the cards are revealed wins the pot.

A poker hand is made up of five cards and its value is in inverse proportion to the probability of getting that particular combination. Players may also bluff, betting that they have the best hand when they do not, in order to win.

The dealer changes to the left after each hand, and this is called the button position. The button can be an empty seat, but it is more common to have a person sitting in it that cuts the cards after each hand.

At the start of a hand, each player buys in for a set number of chips. This is usually equal to the minimum ante, or bet amount. Each player then takes turns opening the betting. If you open, each player must raise your bet to at least the minimum amount of the raise.

A key to successful decision-making is being able to identify tells in other players, which can reveal their intentions. These signals can include eye contact, facial expressions and body language. Maria says that learning to read these tells can help people make better decisions, whether it’s about breakfast or their future career choices.