Poker is a card game in which players place bets of chips (representing money) into a pot. The player with the highest hand wins the pot. The game can be played with as few as two players, but it is typically played by seven or more. The game requires a large table and chairs. It is usually played with poker chips, which come in different colors and values. A white chip is worth one minimum ante or bet; a red chip is worth five whites; and a blue chip is worth twenty or more whites. Each player must buy in for a certain amount of chips before the deal begins.

During a betting round, a player may say “raise” to add more money to the pot. This must be done in turn around the table, and it’s up to the other players whether or not to call your raise.

If you don’t want to raise, you can just say “call” to match the previous bet. Alternatively, you can fold your cards. If you fold, you cannot re-raise or call until betting gets back to you.

Poker is a game of skill, and one of the keys to success is reading your opponents. It’s important to identify conservative players and aggressive ones, and to exploit their tendencies. This can be done off-the-felt by studying their behavior and reading poker books, but it is also necessary to practice playing the game with others to develop quick instincts.