The Basics of Poker

Poker is a card game played between two or more players and has a number of different variants. It is often a game of chance and skill, but it also involves betting. The object is to win a pot, which is the sum of all bets made during a round. A player may choose to call, raise or fold, and the person with the highest hand wins. Players can also bluff, which can be effective in increasing their chances of winning.

Each player must purchase chips representing money. In most games, a white chip is worth one unit of the minimum ante or bet; a red chip is worth five whites; and blue chips are worth 20 or 25 whites. A player wishing to remain in the pot must place enough chips in it to make his total contribution equal to or greater than that of the active player before him.

There are various rules about how to proceed in a game of poker, such as the fact that a player cannot win more than his original stake (unless he calls another player’s higher bet and proves he has the best hand). Players can also agree before the game begins on rules regarding side pots, which are additional bets placed for a specific purpose by a particular group of players.

Many poker players have tells, which are unconscious habits that reveal information about their hands. These can be as simple as a change in facial expression or gesture.