Poker is a card game played by a group of people sitting around a table. Each player has chips that he can use to make bets on his or her hand during one or more betting intervals. The goal is to have the highest ranked hand when the betting is finished. The winner of a hand wins the “pot” which is all of the chips that have been bet during the round. The original pot may be divided into several side pots if players choose to bet on more than one hand during a round.

Before the cards are dealt, the rules of the particular poker variant being played may require that each player place an initial contribution, called an ante, into the pot. This amount is usually equal to the total bet made by the players in the preceding betting interval.

Once the antes have been placed, the cards are dealt face down to each player (hidden from other players). Each player then has the option to call the bet or fold. Once all players have decided whether to call the bet or not, 3 additional cards are dealt face up in the center of the table (revealed to all players) which form what is known as the flop. A new betting phase begins at this point, beginning with the player to the left of the dealer.

To be successful at Poker, a player needs quick instincts. This can be developed through practice and by watching experienced players and imagining how they would react in certain situations. It is also helpful to learn how to read your opponents, a skill that is sometimes referred to as tells and involves observing body language, facial expressions, gestures and breathing.