Poker is a card game where players compete to form the best five-card hand. It involves betting, bluffing, and reading opponents. Players can also improve their chances of winning by learning the rules and understanding how cards are dealt. The basic strategy is to raise with strong hands and call with weak ones. This is known as “value betting.” However, it’s important to remember that poker is not purely a game of skill — luck plays a large part in any session or hand.

To play, each player must have a certain amount of chips (called buy-ins). Each player is dealt two cards face down and then there are five community cards that all players can use to make their best five-card hand. The player with the best hand wins the “pot” — all of the bets that have been placed for that deal.

The game can be played with 2 to 14 people, but it is most interesting with six or seven players. There are several different forms of the game, but all have some essential features. Players take turns betting after each card. The best Poker hand wins the pot, which is the total of all bets made for a single round.

There are a number of ways to learn Poker, but one of the most effective is to spend time playing and watching other players. Watching experienced players can help you develop good instincts and understand how to play the game.