The Basics of Poker

Poker is a card game that involves betting. Players place chips into a pot before being dealt cards and the highest hand wins the pot. There are a number of rules that must be followed in order to play the game correctly. These are usually outlined in the game rules or in a poker book.

The first rule is that all players must ante a certain amount to participate in the game. This amount is typically a low denomination of chip. The second rule is that when betting comes around to a player, they must either call the current bet, raise it, or fold. If they don’t fold, they must continue betting until everyone has folded or there are no more bets to call.

There are a number of other rules that players must follow during the course of a hand. For example, if someone calls a bet and then doesn’t raise it again on the turn, they are “sandbagging” and are considered to have a poor hand. Another rule that is important to note is that a player cannot raise the same bet more than once in a row.

One of the most difficult things for beginners to learn is how to read other players. This is a crucial part of the game and can be learned from studying patterns of their actions. In addition to subtle physical tells, poker reads can also be deduced from bet sizing and how often players raise their hands.