Poker is a card game played with a standard deck of 52 cards. Some variations of the game use multiple packs or jokers. The goal of the game is to make the best five-card hand. The highest-ranking hand wins the pot. Players contribute to the pot by placing chips in it each time they place their bets. One player may be required to make a forced bet before the deal (called an ante). The dealer then shuffles the cards, the player on the chair to their right cuts and they are dealt into each person’s hand, face up or down, as specified by the particular variant being played. After the first of what may be several betting rounds, a showdown ensues with the best Poker hand taking the pot.

There are many ways to play poker and some are more complex than others. In any game of poker you must learn to read the other players. This is not so much from subtle physical poker tells such as scratching the nose or playing nervously with your chips, but rather from patterns. If a player tends to bet all the time then chances are they’re holding some pretty weak cards.

When it is your turn to bet you must either match the previous player’s bet (called calling) or raise it. Saying “raise” means you want to add more money to the bet pool. You must then wait for the other players to choose whether to call or fold.