Poker is a card game that has a large element of luck, but it also requires quite a bit of skill. It is a game that has many variations, but they all have some common elements.
Before dealing cards, one or more players put an initial amount of money into the pot. These are called forced bets and come in the form of antes, blinds or bring-ins. Then the dealer deals each player 2 cards face down. There is a round of betting after this.
The goal is to make a winning hand by making either a pair, straight or flush. The highest hand wins. Ties are broken by looking at the highest card in each hand.
A major challenge in poker is dealing with incomplete information. Every time you fold, call, check or raise you give away bits of information to your opponents. They can piece it together to build a story about you. Sometimes this is to see whether you have a strong hand, but other times it is to know when to bluff.
A skilled dealer can read this information and use it to their advantage. They are also adept at dealing with players who bluff, by correctly assessing when it is worth raising and calling bets. Finally, they are excellent at reading other players and using that information to change their strategy. This is what makes them a force to be reckoned with at the table.