Poker is a card game that involves betting between players and the wagering of chips (representing money). It can be played by 2 to 14 people, although games with more than 10 players are usually organized into two or more tables. Each player places a number of chips into the pot before dealing each hand. During each betting interval, a player may increase his or her bet by placing additional chips into the pot. A player can also bet by raising a previous player’s bet, or “re-raise.”

A poker hand consists of five cards. The value of a hand is determined in part by its mathematical frequency, and in part by a player’s ability to bluff other players into calling bets on weak hands. In addition to playing strong hands, a good poker player must be able to recognize when to fold his or her hand.

During the first betting phase of each deal, each player puts in a fixed amount of chips into the pot, called a bet, according to the rules of the particular poker variant. In most cases, the player to the left of the big blind begins the betting.

It is important to study your opponents’ betting patterns and the size of their chip stacks. A short-stacked player will be desperate to win and is easier to bluff against. On the other hand, an opponent with a large stack is more likely to call your bets, so you should be careful not to overplay your hand.