Poker is a card game in which players place bets, called chips, to compete for the pot. While poker may seem to involve a large amount of luck, it is similar to other competitive skill games in that the best player will win over the long run. To master poker, it is essential to understand optimal frequencies and hand ranges for the different situations that arise in the game.

Before a poker hand is dealt, one or more players must make forced bets, which are known as the ante and blind bets (sometimes both). The dealer then shuffles the cards, cuts them with the player to their right, and deals each player 2 cards face-down. These hidden cards are known as a player’s hole or pocket. A betting round then begins, with each player calling or raising according to the rules of the poker variant being played.

The best 5-card poker hand wins the pot, which consists of all bets made during a single deal. Some poker variants also have a draw phase in which the best card is chosen from those remaining after the betting has ended.

When a player wants to increase their bet but doesn’t have the best hand, they say “raise.” This forces the other players to call the raise or fold. Players can also “check” the pot if they don’t want to raise it. The poker chip colors are usually red, white, black, or blue.