Poker is a card game that has a little bit of chance, but mostly relies on the ability to read your opponents and keep a cool demeanor while making big bluffs. The object is to win the pot (all bets placed during a single betting round). Usually, this involves having the highest hand of five cards, but there are other ways to win the pot as well.

Almost all forms of poker involve betting among players for chips. Each player must place a bet, or “call,” in order to remain in the game. The person to their left may raise the call, or “raise,” if they have more than the amount that the player called. The player who raised will then add more chips to the pot, or they can fold.

At the beginning of each betting interval, all players must make a forced bet, or “ante.” This is usually equal to the minimum bet in the game. The cards are then shuffled and dealt one at a time to the players, starting with the person on the chair to their right. Depending on the game, some or all of the cards are dealt face up.

The game is played with poker chips, which are colored and sized differently from regular casino chips. Each color represents a different value. For example, a white chip is worth one unit of the ante or bet, while a red chip is worth five whites.