Poker is a card game played between two or more players. It is a game of chance, but it also requires skill. A player’s success at the table depends on their ability to make the right decisions with their hand and their bet size in every situation.

A poker game can be played with anywhere from 2 to 14 players. The object is to win the pot, which is the sum of all bets made by players on any one deal. Players place their bets by raising or calling, depending on the rules of the specific game being played.

The game is usually played with chips, which are color-coded to indicate their value: a white chip, for example, is worth the minimum ante or bet; a red chip is worth five whites, and so on. During each betting interval, the first player to call or raise a bet puts his or her chips into the pot. If a player cannot call or raise the current bet, they must “drop” (fold) and will not participate in the rest of that round.

A player may also choose to “open” a betting interval, meaning that they are the first person to put in any amount of money. The other players must either match or raise the bet or fold. If all players raise the bet, the bettor wins the pot. If not, a showdown takes place where the hands are revealed and the winner is declared.