Poker is a card game that requires skill to win. There are many different variants of the game, but they all have some similarities. The underlying skill is to minimize losses with poor hands while maximizing winnings with good ones. In the course of each betting interval, or round, players place chips into the pot in order to bet on their hands.

The first player to the left of the dealer makes a bet by placing one or more chips into the pot. Each player then has the option of calling that bet, raising it higher, or dropping the hand. If a player drops the hand, they cannot compete for the pot and will forfeit their share of any chips that they had put in it previously.

Once the ante has been placed, each player is dealt two cards. These are known as hole cards and are not shown to the other players. A series of community cards are then dealt face up in three stages, known as the flop, the turn, and the river. The players then reveal their cards and the person with the highest hand wins.

The rules of a poker game vary, but in most cases the number of chips in the pot must be sufficient to raise at least the minimum amount. Occasionally, a pot limit may be established. Usually, a player who raises is required to have at least as many chips in the pot as the total of any previous bet or else they must “call.” This ensures that the game is played within its limits.