Poker is a card game that can be played by two or more players. The object of the game is to make a five-card hand with higher ranks than your opponent. You can also win by bluffing or raising other players’ stakes in the hope of making a strong hand. Different poker games have different rules, but most use a forced bet system to collect antes or blind bets from players before dealing the cards. Once the cards are dealt, each player can raise his or her stakes in a betting round. When a player cannot match the raise of a previous raiser, he or she must “call” (match) that amount or drop out of the hand altogether.

Players can also say ‘raise’ to increase their bet by the same amount as the last player, or they can ‘call’ (match) that amount, or raise it again. Players can also ‘check’, meaning they are not raising, or ‘fold,’ which means they discard their cards and take no further part in the hand. Players usually announce their bets out loud, but there are non-verbal ways to signal a check or a fold, such as touching the table or giving up cards to the dealer face down without saying anything.

To get good at poker, you need to have certain built-in skills, like being a strategic thinker, having excellent memory, and basic math skills. You also need to be able to read your opponents. Finally, a calm demeanor and the ability to bluff are important. These skills can be honed with practice, and by learning from more experienced players.