Poker is a card game played by a group of people around a table. Each player has a stack of chips and the aim is to win the “pot” – the total of all bets placed during a hand – by either having the highest ranked hand or by betting that you have a high-ranking hand and forcing other players to fold.

The game begins with each player putting in a mandatory bet (called blinds) into the pot before being dealt 2 cards. The betting then starts with the player on the left of the button. Each player may call, raise or fold. When a player calls, they must put the same amount of chips into the pot as the caller or more. A raise is a bet that is higher than the previous bet and must be called by all players. If no one else calls the raise, the player must fold.

In order to be successful at poker, a player needs to develop a good understanding of the game and its various variations. This includes knowing how different players think and act during the game, including their famous tells. It is also important to understand the game’s rules and strategy, as well as how to read other players’ reactions during a hand.

Another essential skill of poker is bankroll management, which involves only playing in games that you can afford to lose. This includes not only playing within your limits, but also only playing in games with players at the same or lower skill level as you.