Poker is a card game played between two or more players. It is a fast-paced game where betting continues until one player has all the chips and their hand is revealed. The winner of the hand wins the “pot” – all the money that has been bet during that hand.

The cards are dealt to each player face down and then there is a round of betting. A player can say “check” to pass on betting or they can bet, which means they are placing a amount of money into the pot that their opponents must match or exceed. They can also raise, which means they are increasing the amount of money that they are betting.

Top poker players often fast-play strong value hands. This is done in order to maximise their chances of winning the pot, by chasing off other players who are waiting for a draw that might beat their hand.

It is important for the narrator to understand how poker is played and to be familiar with all the different rules and variants. It is also important for them to know how to read players and pick up on their tells, such as eye movements, idiosyncrasies and betting behavior. They should also be able to tell when someone is holding a good hand and when they are bluffing. This way they can make their opponents pay for their mistakes and win more money. This is how the best players make a living from poker.