Poker is a card game that involves betting, and it is often played in groups. It has a wide variety of rules, but the basic game is similar across all variations. The game is a mixture of skill and psychology. A player must know how to read his or her opponents in order to make the best decision. This is especially important when bluffing.

The game starts with each player putting chips into the pot in order to stay in the hand. Then, each player will either call the bet (put in the same amount as the previous player) or raise it. The highest hand wins the pot. There are different variations of the game, but most are similar in that players must “ante” an amount to get dealt cards, and then place bets in turn.

A player’s body language can give away whether he is bluffing or has a strong hand. These tells are usually based on a player’s breathing patterns, facial expressions, and the manner and content of his or her speech. Inexperienced players may also try to act contrary to their hands, trying to appear bold when bluffing and meek or quiet when holding a strong hand.

For nearly 100 years, poker was regarded as a gambling game for men only and unsuited to polite or mixed gatherings. However, in the 1920s it became a popular game among both men and women. It is currently the most popular card game in the United States, followed by contract bridge and rummy.