The game of poker is a card game for two to 14 players with a single object: to win the pot, which consists of all bets made by the players in any given deal. The pot is won by having the best hand, or by making a bet that no other player calls. In order to play poker, each player must buy in with a certain number of chips. Each chip is worth a different amount depending on the color: white chips are worth one unit; red chips are worth five units; and blue chips are worth ten units.

During each round of betting, players can fold (leave the game), check (not pay into the pot), call a bet (match the value of another player’s bet), or raise a bet (bet a larger amount than the previous player). Each player is also allowed to discard cards and take new ones from the top of the deck. The highest-ranking cards are then shown and the winning player is awarded the pot.

A key to success in poker is being able to recognize the strength of your opponents’ hands. You’ll never see the cards your opponent has, but you can piece together bits of information from their actions and the way they speak to give yourself clues about what their holding is like. You can use this information to decide whether to bluff or play a good, strong hand. Practice and watch experienced players to develop quick instincts.