Poker is a card game where players bet on who has the best combination of cards, called a hand. Unlike most card games where luck decides everything, poker rewards players who can read their opponents, manage risk, and know when to hold their cards and when to fold (give up on a round).

In a typical poker game, each player receives cards that only they can see. Players take turns betting chips based on how strong they think their hand is. The clever part: you can win either by actually having the best cards or by convincing others through your betting that you do, causing them to fold. This element of bluffing, of acting confident when you might have weak cards, makes poker as much about psychology as probability.

The most common version today is Texas Hold'em, where players combine their private cards with shared cards everyone can see. Other popular versions include Five-Card Draw (where you can trade in cards you don't want) and Seven-Card Stud.

The phrase poker face comes from this game: it means showing no emotion so opponents can't tell whether your cards are strong or weak. When someone keeps a perfect poker face, they reveal nothing about what they're thinking or feeling.