Poker is a card game played by two or more people, with the goal of making the best five-card hand. It is a game of chance, but it also involves skill and psychology. Players must evaluate their own cards and the strengths of other hands before deciding how to play.

A player may choose to fold, call or raise. If a player calls, they must raise the amount of the previous bettor to remain in the round. If they raise, the other players must call the new bet to stay in the hand. A raise is made when the player believes their cards are strong enough to win.

During the deal, each player is dealt two cards face down, known as their hole cards. These are followed by a series of three community cards, referred to as the flop, and then an additional single card, known as the turn. Then a final card is dealt, called the river.

Tournaments are events that bring structure to friendly competitions in sports, games and other areas where a large number of competitors can only be included in small matches, such as team sports, racket and combat sports, many card games and board games, and competitive debating. These events are run by an organizer at a store, convention or other venue and offer a chance to compete for prizes.

One of the biggest obstacles to learning Poker is overcoming the fear of losing money. This is overcome by understanding the basic etiquette of the game and observing other players to develop quick instincts.