Poker is a card game in which players place chips (representing money) into a pot before betting on their hand. The object of the game is to win the pot, which includes all bets made by players during a single deal of cards. The amount of skill involved in poker varies greatly depending on the game’s rules and the players, but most games are characterized by fast action and high stakes. A player can win the pot by having the highest poker hand or by raising a bet that no other player calls.

When a player has two matching cards of the same rank, this is called a pair. Three of a kind is three cards of the same rank, while straight and flush are five consecutive cards of the same suit, such as K-A-2-3-4.

At the start of each betting interval, one player, designated by the rules of the poker variant being played, has the privilege or obligation to make the first bet. After that, each player may choose to call the bet or fold his or her cards.

A player may also raise the previous bet, known as a “raise,” to add more money into the pot. If another player calls the raise, he or she has to match or exceed the original bet to stay in the hand. This is also a good way to bluff and intimidate other players into folding their hands. This strategy can help you minimize losses with poor hands and increase your winnings with strong ones.