Poker is a card game with many different variations played by a wide range of people. It is a game of skill and luck, and requires players to make decisions under pressure, weighing the value of their own hidden cards against that of the public cards on the table. The goal is to win a pot of money by having the best hand at the end of the betting round.
The game begins with forced bets made by the two players to the left of the dealer. These bets are called blinds and add money to the central pot of money that every player has a chance to win. Once everyone has 2 cards in their hand, the first of multiple betting rounds begin. During each betting round, cards are dealt to the players one at a time, starting with the player to the left of the dealer. The cards may be face up or down, depending on the variation of poker being played.
After each round, players take turns revealing their hands. A player who has a winning hand collects the pot of money from those who have not folded. Players can also use their own cards to signal information about the strength of their hand or attempt to bluff other players into folding before a showdown.
A successful poker player must have the ability to read their opponents, and understand that there is a multitude of ways to play a given situation. This ability comes from having the right meta-skills for the game: Opportunities, Strategy and Execution.