Poker is a card game in which players place bets (often in the form of chips) into a pot and then attempt to assemble a winning hand. It may be played with any number of players, though most games are played with 6, 7, or 8 players. Each player must put a certain amount of chips into the pot when it is their turn, regardless of whether they are holding a hand. Players can win the pot by having the highest-ranking poker hand at the end of a deal or by betting in a way that no other players call.
During a poker hand, players are dealt two cards each and then have the option to raise, call, or fold their cards. In some games, the player to the left of the button takes the first turn; in this case he can either call the current bet or push his cards face down without putting any chips in the pot (fold). If a player calls a bet and then folds, they drop out of any side pots and relinquish their rights to any money already paid into the main pot.
When playing poker, it is important to study the betting patterns of your opponents. Identifying whether your opponents are conservative or aggressive can help you predict their behavior and make the best decisions. For example, a conservative player will often fold early in a hand and is easily read by other players who can then bluff them into calling higher bets.