Poker is a card game in which players place bets, called chips, to try to make the best five-card hand. The game can be played by two to 14 players. The object is to win the pot, which is the total amount of bets placed in a single deal. This can be done by having the highest-ranking poker hand, or by making a bet that no other player calls.

When playing poker, it is important to be able to read other players’ intentions. This is a necessary skill, as the game involves bluffing as well as being able to make intelligent decisions based on other people’s bets. The best way to learn to read other players is to play in the same game as experienced players and ask for help if you are having trouble.

There are a variety of different poker games, but they all share some common rules. Most poker games are a betting game, and each player has the opportunity to make a bet during each betting interval. The first player to act places chips into the pot (representing money), and each player in turn has the option of calling, raising, or folding his or her cards.

A good rule of thumb is to only play hands that have a high chance of winning. This will usually mean playing only suited cards, or pairs of high-ranking cards (such as a pair of kings). Many poker books will tell you to fold any hand that doesn’t meet this criteria, but that’s an ultra-conservative strategy for those who want to win the most money.