Poker is a card game that can be played between two or more players and is classified as a game of chance. It has become popular worldwide and is played in casinos, bars, clubs, and in private homes. It is a card game of chance, but it can also involve skill. Many professional players are highly specialized and have developed advanced models of the game that they use to make calculated decisions. These strategies are called GTO (Game Theory Optimal) and can help players gain an advantage over their opponents.
During a betting round, each player has the option to call, raise, or fold. A raise means that the player puts in enough chips to match or exceed the total contribution of the previous player to the pot. If a player cannot call the bet, they will have to drop their hand and may not participate in the current round until it is again their turn.
In some variants of poker, a player can choose to make an all-in bet. An all-in bet requires a player to put all of their remaining chips into the pot.
Before the cards are dealt, one or more players must place a bet into the pot. This is called an ante or bring-in, and it happens before each player receives their cards. When all the betting is finished, the players reveal their hands and the player with the best hand wins the pot of money.