Poker is a card game that can be played by two or more people. It is a game of chance, but there are strategies that can be used to increase a player’s chances of winning. Players place bets into a pot (the total of all bets in one deal) based on their perceived odds of having the best possible poker hand at that moment in time. The object of the game is to win the pot.

When a player’s turn comes to act in a hand, they can choose to call, raise, or fold. By saying “call,” the player is saying that they want to raise the amount of money that was previously bet. A raise is a bet that is higher than the previous one, and it must be called by any other players who wish to participate in the hand.

Some forms of poker require players to make forced bets, either an ante or blind bets. These bets are placed before the dealer shuffles and deals each player a set number of cards. Depending on the variant, these cards may be dealt face up or face down.

In some games, there are additional betting rounds, and the highest ranked poker hand wins. This is known as the Showdown. The cards are revealed, and the winning poker hand is awarded the pot. Poker games often use a standard 52-card deck, but some use multiple packs or add wild cards.