Poker is a card game played by two or more players. Its underlying skill involves minimizing losses with poor hands and maximizing winnings with good ones. It also involves reading tells and bluffing. There are several variants of the game, including Texas hold ’em and Omaha. The rules vary from one to the next, but the majority of them involve an initial contribution to the pot by each player. These contributions are called antes and blind bets. The cards are then dealt, and the first of several betting intervals begins. During this time, the players may change their hand by discarding cards and taking new ones.

When play comes to you and you have a weak hand, don’t be afraid to fold. The law of averages dictates that most hands are losers, and you’re better off not to get involved in a losing deal. Instead, take the time to study your opponents’ actions and read their body language.

In some games, the player on the right of the button acts as dealer, while in others, this is done by consensus. A special fund, the kitty, is often established to cover expenses such as new decks of cards and food. During the course of a game, each player must contribute to this fund by “cutting” one low-denomination chip into the pot when they raise. Any chips that remain in the kitty when the game ends are divided equally among players who are still in the game.