Poker is a game of chance and skill, with the main objective being to win the pot, which is the sum total of bets made by players during a hand. This can be done either by having the best poker hand at the end of a deal, or by bluffing and making other players fold their cards. There are many different forms of poker, but they all share some fundamental principles.

Each player is dealt two cards face down and hidden from other players. Then the first phase of betting begins, with the player to the left of the button starting the betting. During this time, the dealer may offer the shuffled pack to his opponent for a cut.

After the betting phase, the players take turns revealing their cards. The player who has the best 5-card poker hand wins the pot.

A pair of kings off the deal isn’t bad, but it doesn’t beat five queens. Then the betting starts and Alex “checks” (he doesn’t want to risk his good hand for a small amount). Then Charley calls (he puts in a dime) and Dennis raises a dime.

Reading the tells of other players is key to improving your own poker game. A tell is any unconscious habit that reveals information about your poker hand to other players. This can be as subtle as a change in your posture or as obvious as a gesture. It is important to learn and recognize these telling habits so that you can exploit other players.