Poker is a game of chance and skill, played by two or more people. It can be played with any number of players, but is most often played between 6 and 14. The object is to win the pot, which is the total of all bets placed during one deal. This may be accomplished by having the highest-ranking hand or by betting so much that no other player calls your bet.

The chosen dealer begins the game by dealing a set number of cards to each player, face up. Each player must then decide whether to open, call, or check the bet that is made before them. The player who opens the bet adds a bet to the current pot, and any other players may choose to call or raise it.

Each player can also fold their hand if they do not want to play it. The remaining players then reveal their hands. The best hand wins the pot. The highest card in the hand determines its rank. There are many different hands, such as two pairs (two cards of the same rank) or no pair (all five cards are of consecutive ranks).

A significant part of the game is reading other players’ tells, which are unconscious habits that reveal information about a player’s hand. These can be as simple as a change in posture or facial expression, and are an important aspect of a good poker player’s strategy.