Poker is a card game in which players wager chips (representing money) into a pot based on the cards they hold and their perceived chance of making a good hand. The game involves an element of bluffing, and the best hands do not always win. There are a number of strategies which can improve the chances of winning a hand.

A player can say “call” to match a bet made by the person to their left; or “raise” which means they will place more chips into the pot than the previous person. A player may also choose to fold if they don’t have a good enough hand to make a bet.

During the deal, two cards are dealt to each player, known as hole cards; then five community cards are dealt in stages – three, referred to as the flop; and then an additional single card, called the turn. The best 5 card hand wins the pot.

The most common way to play poker is in a cash game, where all players have a set amount of chips that they can bet with. The game is fast-paced, with players betting constantly. Experienced players can quickly read other players by looking at their bets, a high bet usually meaning a strong hand and a low one generally meaning a weak one. They can also identify conservative players who will only stay in a hand if they have a strong one, and aggressive players who will often bet high early on in a hand before seeing how the other players are acting.