Poker is a card game in which players bet on the best five-card hand. The player with the highest hand wins all of the money that was put down as buy-in at the table. If no one has a high hand, the game ends in a tie and the players share the pot.

Poker games are usually fast-paced and involve a lot of betting. Each player must “ante” a certain amount to be dealt cards (this amounts to anywhere from a penny to a dime depending on the game). After they are dealt cards, players can either fold or call (put money into the pot) when it is their turn. They can also raise (bet more than the previous player).

The highest hand is a royal flush, which consists of four matching cards of one rank and five consecutive cards of the same suit. The next highest hand is a straight, which contains 5 consecutive cards of the same rank but not all in the same suit. The lowest hand is a pair, which consists of two matching cards of one rank plus three unmatched cards.

Another important aspect of the game is reading other players. There is a large body of literature on this subject, and everyone from psychologists to police officers has discussed how important it is to read facial expressions, body language, and tells. When it comes to poker, however, this skill is especially useful as it can help you determine whether an opponent is bluffing or not.