Poker is a card game that can be played in a variety of ways. It involves betting between players and can be either a game of skill or a game of chance. It is typically played with a standard 52-card deck with one or two jokers. It may be played as a cash or tournament game.

The object of the game is to win the “pot,” or all of the chips that have been bet during a particular deal. This can be done by having the highest-ranking poker hand, or by betting aggressively and forcing other players to call your bets. Players may also bluff by betting that they have a high-ranked hand when they don’t.

Depending on the game rules, each player must place a small amount of money into the pot before any cards are dealt. These are called forced bets and come in the form of antes, blinds, or bring-ins.

In most cases, a player must raise a bet by at least the same amount as was raised before him. In order to do this, a player must “open” the betting by saying that they are raising. They can also open the betting by placing a number of chips into the pot equal to the total contribution made by the player before them. If they are unable to do this, they must drop out of the betting. Players in late positions are able to manipulate the pot by opening on later betting streets, and they can play a wider range of hands from these positions.