Poker is a card game that requires skill and strategy to win. There are many variations of the game, but most share certain aspects. Most poker games involve betting in a shared pot. The player with the highest-ranking hand at the end of a betting round wins the pot. Players may also choose to discard their cards and draw new ones to improve their hands.

Players must put an initial amount into the pot before they are dealt cards, which is called a forced bet (this may be in the form of an ante or blind bet). The dealer then shuffles the pack and deals cards to the players one at a time beginning with the player on their left. The cards may be dealt face up or face down, depending on the variant of poker being played. Once the deal is complete, the first of what will be several betting rounds begins.

Alex had a pair of kings off the deal, which isn’t bad but not great either. He ‘checks’ (which means he doesn’t raise a bet). Charley calls and puts a dime into the pot. Dennis raised earlier, but now he has only two cards and is probably trying for a flush or straight. His high card breaks ties if no one else has a high pair. Being able to read the other players is a critical part of the game. This includes observing their eye movements, idiosyncrasies and betting behavior.