Poker is a card game where players wager against each other with the aim of winning a pot (the sum total of all bets made during one deal). Players must first contribute to the pot, which is called an ante. When betting comes around, the player may choose to call, raise or fold. A player who matches or exceeds the previous bettor’s raise is said to “call,” while a player who makes no bet but sees that all other players have raised is said to “raise.”

A high card hand – a single card of highest value – wins the pot. Other possible hands include straights (a series of cards of consecutive rank, such as three jacks), two pair, and triplets or four of a kind (four cards of the same rank). The top hand is a royal flush, consisting of all five cards in the same suit.

The game can be played by two to 14 players, but it is best with six or more. It requires a range of skills, from probability calculations to strategic thinking. It also builds confidence in taking risks and in weighing options. As a result, it can help improve focus and discipline. It is often played in tournaments, a type of competition where a number of players compete against each other over a set period of time. Tournaments come in a range of sizes, the smallest being local events known as “weeklies,” typically held in card rooms and community centers.