Poker is a card game that can be played by two to seven players. It is a game of chance and skill, with the best hand winning the pot. There are a number of variants of the game, but most involve betting.

In most games the player to the left of the dealer begins the betting by putting down chips. This is called the “First Blind”. If the player to his or her right raises the bet, then that is called a “Raise”. Typically the first player to act will either call or fold his or her cards.

Players may bet on any number of their own hands and other players’ hands, but only the highest hand wins the pot. The highest ranked hand can be a high card, a straight, a flush, or a pair. High card is a single card of high rank; a straight is five cards in consecutive rank; a flush is five cards of the same suit; and a pair is two matching cards.

A player can also bet with his or her own hands, but this is usually only done as a bluff. When a player is dealt a poor hand and betting starts, it’s often best to check. This forces weaker hands out of the game. If a good hand is dealt, it’s often best to raise. This forces the other players to call and can even push them out of the game completely.