Poker is a card game played between two or more players. The object is to win the pot, which is the sum of all bets made by players in a single deal. A player may win the pot by having the highest-ranking poker hand, or by making a bet that no other player calls. Players may also bluff by betting that they have a strong hand when in fact they do not.

The rules of poker vary according to the variant being played, but all have the same basic structure. During each betting interval (called a round), one player, acting in turn, has the privilege or obligation to make the first bet. Each player must then place in the pot the number of chips (representing money, for which poker is almost invariably played) to make his contribution to the pot at least equal to that of the player to his left.

There are various types of poker games, including Texas hold’em and Omaha high low. The game can be played by as few as two players, but the ideal number is six or seven.

There are several factors that influence which hands are likely to win, such as position at the table and the cards on the board. A very good starting hand is pocket kings or queens. However, if an ace hits the flop your pockets are going to be exposed and it can be difficult to conceal a big pair of kings or queens on the flop.