Poker is a card game in which you use your cards and the cards of other players to try and make the best hand. The game is played in many different forms, but the basics of the game are similar.

In any type of poker, you must decide how much to put into the pot in each betting round. You can choose to “call,” which means matching a player’s bet; “raise,” which means adding more money to the pot; or “drop,” which means dropping out of the betting pool and losing any chips you had put into it.

The amount you put into the pot depends on your pot odds. If the odds of winning your hand are greater than 11-to-1, you should call.

How to Play the Game

The first round begins with a player who bets the ante, a small amount of money that is determined by the table. Then, all other players will be dealt two cards face down and one card face up.

Next, each player takes a look at their cards and decides whether to bet or not. During each betting interval, the player to the left must either “call,” which means matching that bet; or “raise,” which means adding more to the pot.

At the end of each betting interval, a showdown takes place and the hole cards are revealed. The player who has the best hand wins the pot. If two hands are tied, the tie is broken by the suit of the last card in each hand.