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Why is poker considered a constant-sum game?

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A colorful payoff matrix for a normal form game in game theory, showing strategy options-support, oppose, evade-for both party A and party B. Each cell contains cartoon figures representing each party's action and lists percentage payoffs for A and B. The bottom-right cell is labeled saddlepoint, highlighting the equilibrium. — game theory Table 1
The normal-form table illustrates the concept of a saddlepoint, or entry, in a payoff matrix at which the expected gain of each participant (row or column) has the highest guaranteed payoff.

In game theory, poker is classified as a constant-sum game because the total wealth of all players involved remains fixed throughout the duration of the game.1

While the distribution of chips or money shifts between participants as the game progresses—with one player's gain representing a direct loss for another—the aggregate sum of the players' resources does not change. Because the interests of the players are completely opposed, these are also referred to as games of pure competition. This is distinct from variable-sum games, where the total outcome can result in a net gain or loss for the group as a whole.12