Poker is a card game in which players place bets, using chips that represent the value of their hands. Each player begins with two cards, called hole cards. Then, in stages, additional cards are dealt. These cards are known as the flop, the turn, and the river. After each round of betting, the highest ranking hand wins the pot, which is the sum total of all the bets placed by players during a given hand.

To win at poker, you must be able to read the other players at your table. This is accomplished through observation and the use of tells, which are a person’s unique characteristics such as body language, facial expressions, and betting patterns. Studying these tells can help you to see through an opponent’s bluffs or to pick up on a tell that they may be holding a great hand.

You must also understand the game’s rules and the value of each chip. Generally, a white chip is worth the minimum ante; a red chip is equal to five whites. Each player must “buy in” for the same amount of chips before the deal begins.

During the betting rounds, a player may bet, call, raise, or fold his or her hand in accordance with the game’s strategy. Each bet adds money or chips to the pot. After the last betting round, the players reveal their hands and compare them. The winner or winners are determined by the rank of their cards.