Poker is a card game played between players and the object of the game is to win money by making your opponents think you have a stronger hand than you actually do. In life, this can mean beating someone who has more experience or a better CV to get the job you want. In poker, this can mean bluffing to get other players to call your bets when you have a weak hand.
A standard poker hand consists of five cards. Its rank is determined by its odds (probability), and ties are broken by the highest unmatched cards or secondary pairs (in a full house, for example).
Depending on the variant of poker being played, there may be one or more betting rounds in a deal. After all players have received their 2 hole cards, a round of betting begins with the player to the left of the dealer.
The first player to act places a forced bet into the pot, which must be raised by each player in turn until a showdown takes place. At this point, the remaining players can either call a sight or fold. A player who calls a sight wins the pot (the amount of chips in the pot) less his initial stake (i.e., his total stake minus the last raise).
In addition to the basic rules of poker, there are various strategies that can be employed to maximise profit. These include tight play, which involves playing only strong hands and folding weaker ones; and aggressive play, which includes betting and raising to put pressure on opponents. Understanding pot odds and expected value (EV) is also critical for making profitable decisions.