Poker is a card game played by two or more people. The objective of the game is to win money by making the best hand possible. There are many variations of the game, but they all share the same basic rules. In a standard game, each player puts an amount of money into the pot before being dealt cards. This initial amount of money is called the ante, blind, or bring-in, depending on the game. Once all players have chips in the pot, they can then bet in response to each other’s actions.

When betting, a player must state how much they wish to bet out loud or in a non-verbal way so that everyone is clear on what they intend to do. For example, tapping the table can mean ‘check’, while waving your hands in a specific way can indicate that you want to fold. Players must also not interfere with other players’ decisions by interfering or revealing their own.

The game of poker requires a lot of skill and discipline. To be a good poker player, you must be able to stick to your strategy even when it’s boring or frustrating. In addition, you must be able to overcome short term luck elements. For this reason, it’s important to learn as much as you can about the game and how to play well.