Poker is a card game that can be played with any number of players. The object of the game is to win the pot, which is the sum total of all bets made in a single deal. The bets are made by placing chips (representing money) into the pot before the cards are dealt. The first player to place his bet is known as the ante. The other players then have the option to call, raise or fold their hands.

The best poker players can put a range of hand strengths on their opponents and predict what they will play. This allows them to make the most profit from their strong hands and chase off their opponents with weaker hands.

Beginners should start their poker career slow and play a wide variety of hands, as this will allow them to observe the players at the table and learn how they tend to act. It is also a good idea to avoid playing with other strong players, as this will most likely cost you some of your hard earned cash.

There are many different poker variants, but all share a basic structure. Each player starts with two cards face down and one up. Depending on the variant, one or more players must place an initial amount of chips into the pot before the cards are dealt, called forced bets. These bets are usually small and come in the form of an ante, blinds and bring-ins.