Poker is a game of skill and chance. While the chance element is relatively small in a typical hand, it is still an important factor. Developing a strategy for poker should include consideration of the various players, their ranges, and balancing bluffs. The Fiedler and Rock approach provides strong support for this claim, with converging lines of evidence to support the skill-based argument.

A poker game can involve as few as two players, but in most cases, six to eight players are ideal. The sum of all bets in a hand is known as the pot. The player with the highest hand wins the pot. In addition to winning the pot, a player can also win a poker game simply by making a bet that no other player calls.

Unlike many games, poker involves betting. Players place blind or ante bets before the game begins. When the dealer shuffles the cards, he cuts them and deals them one at a time to each player. The cards may be dealt face-up or face-down, depending on the variation of the game. As the game progresses, the players develop their poker hands.

The rules of poker vary from country to country. In general, however, the cards are dealt face-up. In the United States, a standard 52-card deck is used for the game. In other countries, a smaller deck is used.