Poker is a card game of chance with many variations, but it usually involves betting chips. The highest ranked hand wins the pot, which is all of the money bet during one deal. The game has a social component and can be enjoyed by people of all ages.

Players put in a small mandatory bet, called a blind or an ante, before they are dealt cards that they keep hidden from their opponents. Each player then chooses to call, raise or fold their bet in accordance with the strategy they’ve developed. This adds to an ever-growing pile of money, or “pot,” in the center of the table.

The game is played by two or more players, depending on the variant being played. Each player has 2 personal cards that they hold, and 5 community cards that are shared by all the players. The community cards are used in conjunction with the players’ two hidden “hole” cards to form their best five-card poker hand.

The game can be very strategic as players make decisions based on their knowledge of other players’ behaviors and reactions. Observe experienced players to learn how they react during the course of a hand and use that information to develop your own strategy. This will help you become a faster, more accurate decision maker.