The Basics of Poker

Poker is a card game played by two or more players. It is a game of strategy and mathematics, with an element of chance. Poker has many different variants, but all of them involve betting and a showdown where the player with the best hand wins the pot. The game has a number of rules and strategies that can be used to increase the chances of winning, as well as to mislead other players.

Each player starts the game with a set amount of chips. There is often a “dealer” who shuffles the cards and deals them to each player. This person is sometimes a non-player, and in some cases the position of dealer changes each round. A button is passed around the table to indicate who has dealer responsibilities each round. This is because certain betting rules depend on who is dealer.

After all the players have received their hole cards, a round of betting begins. This is triggered by two mandatory bets called blinds, which are put into the pot by the players to the left of the button. These are forced bets that help give players something to chase after.

The players can fold, call, or raise (bet a higher amount than the previous player’s bet). They may also use bluffing to deceive other players and gain an advantage. The aim is to maximise the value of your winning hands and minimise losses from losing ones – this approach is known as min-max.