Poker is a card game played between two or more players and governed by a set of rules. The objective of the game is to use the cards you are dealt to make the best five-card hand possible. During the game, players may bet on their own hands or try to bluff other players into betting. Poker is a card game that involves a large amount of chance, but it also involves strategy and psychology.

To start a game of poker, each player “buys in” by placing a specified number of chips into the pot. Each chip has a specific value, usually worth the minimum ante or bet. A white chip is typically worth a single unit, a red chip is worth five whites, and a blue chip is worth 10 or 25 whites. During the course of play, each player may place additional chips into the pot by saying “raise.” To raise, you must have enough money in your chip stack to match the amount of the bet that the other players have placed.

The dealer typically does the shuffling and betting. However, it is important for the player to understand how to do these tasks. New players should ask more experienced players for help. Then they should practice a few times before having a real game.

Once the cards are dealt, the betting starts with the player to the left of the dealer. The first player to act places a bet of one or more chips into the pot. Each player to his left must call the bet by putting the same number of chips into the pot, raise the bet by adding more than the previous player’s contribution, or drop out. A player who drops out loses any chips he has put into the pot.

When a player has a strong hand, he can say “stay” or “hit” and the dealer will give him another card. This will allow him to force weaker hands out of the game, and increase the value of his hand. When a player has a weak hand, he can say “check” and the dealer will place his card face-down in front of him.

Ties are broken in poker by the highest hand. High hands include a pair, three of a kind, and straight. A flush is a hand with three cards of the same rank. A three-card straight is a straight that includes the last two cards. The high card breaks ties in a three-card hand. In a four-card hand, the highest card wins. In a full house, the highest card wins. In a straight flush, the highest card wins in any order. In a pair, the highest pair wins. In a flush, the highest card wins. In a three-card straight, the highest card wins in any order.