Poker is a card game in which players place bets on the cards they receive from a random distribution. While poker has a high level of luck, the long-run expectations of the players are determined by their actions chosen on the basis of probability calculations, psychology, and game theory.

At the start of a game, players purchase a certain number of poker chips. These chips are usually white or light-colored, and each chip represents a unit worth whatever the minimum ante is. The game proceeds clockwise, with the first player to the left placing a bet. Players can call, raise, or drop the bet. In the case of a tie, the kicker (or highest ranked card) is used to determine a winner.

The game continues in rounds, each consisting of betting and the dealing of a single card. Each player can choose to keep the same hand for subsequent rounds, or they can discard their cards and take new ones.

When a player has a strong starting hand, they can ‘raise’ by increasing the amount of money they put into the pot. This action can encourage other players to match the raise and re-raise, thereby increasing the total amount of bets in the pot.

A player can also ‘call’ by simply matching the amount of money raised. However, a player who calls too often will be beaten by opponents that know they are only trying to protect their own money. Similarly, in life, seeking safety can lead to missing out on great rewards because you miss the chance to risk a little and make a big difference.