Poker is a card game in which players bet on the strength of their hands. The aim is to win the pot, which is the sum of all bets made in a single round. There are a number of different variants, but all involve an element of risk-taking. In some variants, the cards are dealt in sets of three to each player, while in others the first player to act must call for a showdown when his hand is complete. The roots of the game lie in a variety of earlier vying games, including Primero (Romanian), Post and Pair (English and American, 17th – 18th centuries), and Brag (18th century to present).

When playing Poker, there is always uncertainty. Players don’t know what other players have, so they can’t be sure how they will react or what strategies they will use. A good Poker player must weigh their chances of winning against those of losing to minimize losses and maximize profits. This is a very familiar skill in life, when one must make decisions under uncertainty, such as during a job interview or deciding whether to invest in a new business venture.

A standard pack of 52 cards is used, and the dealer deals them to the players in rotation, starting with the player on his left. The cards may be dealt either face-up or face-down. Once all players have a full set of cards, betting begins. The player on the right of the current dealer has the option to cut, and the shuffled pack is offered to him for this purpose.