Poker is a card game played by two or more players and involves betting on the strength of a hand. The player who has the best hand wins the pot, which is the aggregate amount of all bets made in a single deal. There are many forms of the game, but most involve two or more betting intervals. At the end of each interval, the cards are revealed and the winning hand is decided.

Each player begins the game by purchasing a number of chips that represent their total commitment to the pot. A white chip is worth the minimum ante or bet, while a red chip is worth five whites. Most games also have a maximum limit, such as 50 chips. When it is your turn to act, you must say “call” or “I call” if you wish to make a bet equal to that of the previous player. The number of chips you call must match the total value of the current pot, so for example if the player before you raised by 14 chips, you must raise in kind (by placing another 14 chips into the pot).

Observing your opponents and understanding their betting patterns is an important part of developing your Poker skills. Many players play Poker with their headphones in or scrolling on their smartphones, missing out on valuable information about the other players at the table. Emotional and superstitious players are almost guaranteed to lose money, while those who use a cold, mathematical approach are much more likely to break even or improve their game.