Poker is a card game where players compete to form the highest ranking hand based on the cards in their possession. At the end of a betting round, the player with the highest hand wins the pot – the sum of all bets placed by players. Players may also choose to bluff in an attempt to make other players fold and expose their cards.
Before dealing the cards, each player must contribute a small amount to the pot called an ante. Then the dealer will place the cards face down in front of each player. Each player then takes turns revealing their cards. If their card is higher than the card in the middle, they win the pot. If their card is lower, they must call a bet or raise it to continue the betting round.
When a player calls, they are placing a bet equal to the previous person’s bet. If they raise the bet, they are raising it by a certain amount. If they don’t call, they are folding their cards.
In order to play poker, it is essential to be able to read people. This includes observing how they hold their cards and chips, and paying attention to their body language. It is also important to understand the different types of players. These include conservative players, who are more likely to check early in the hand; and aggressive players, who tend to bet high on the first betting round.