Poker is a card game played by a group of players around a table. The object is to have the highest-ranking hand when the betting rounds are over, and thus win the pot (all bets placed during a deal). The game can be played with any number of players, but it is most popular with six or eight. There are many different variants of the game, but all share some basic rules.
During the first betting phase, players are each dealt two cards face-down (hidden from other players). These are called that player’s hole or pocket and form the basis for their poker hand. A second round of betting then begins, but this time a total of five additional cards are revealed to the players on the table. These are known as the community cards and can be used by all players to create their best 5-card poker hand.
A player must make a bet, either to open or raise the ante, as defined in the rules of the poker variant being played. A player may also withdraw from the pot at any time.
An important part of poker strategy is reading your opponents. This involves observing the way they play, their body language and other tells such as how often they flinch or smile. It is also a good idea to keep a file of poker hands, both yours and those of other players, to draw on for inspiration and practice.