Poker is a card game that involves skill, strategy and some chance. Players wager money or chips on the outcome of a hand of cards that are randomly distributed to them. The game is played in rounds, with the winner winning all the chips that were put down as buy-ins at the table. The rules of Poker can vary widely, depending on the game variant and card distribution.

Each player starts the game with two cards, called their hole cards. The person to the left of the big blind takes their turn first, and can choose to call (put in a bet equal to the size of the previous bet), raise (put in at least double the amount of the last bet) or fold.

Once everyone has called or raised, the flop is dealt. This is when all players reveal their cards, and the player with the highest ranking five-card hand wins the pot. If there is a tie for the high and low hands, the odd chip goes to the player with the highest suit.

It is important to know how to read other players’ betting patterns and understand their motivations. This can help you make better decisions and read other players’ tells, which can lead to a greater edge for you in the long run. For example, if a player is very conservative and only stays in a hand when they have a good one, you can easily bluff them into folding.