Poker is a card game that involves betting. It can also involve bluffing. The goal of the game is to make a 5-card hand that beats other players’ hands. The player with the best hand wins all of the money in the pot. Occasionally, there is a tie among the top five cards and the pot is shared between the players. Some poker games have specific rules for sharing the pot.

Each round begins with the dealer shuffling and dealing the cards to each player, one at a time. Sometimes a non-player is given the role of dealer, but most poker games require that a player be a dealer for each round. Each player is required to place a bet (either an ante or blind bet, depending on the variation) before they are dealt cards.

Once the first betting phase is complete, the cards are revealed and the remaining players can make their decision. If no one has a good hand, the players can choose to fold their cards or make a bet (called raising). Those who raise must call any subsequent bets by the other players.

It is important for a player to know how to read the other players at their table. It is important to differentiate conservative players from aggressive ones. Conservative players will often fold early in a hand and can be bluffed into calling by aggressive players. This knowledge can help a player increase their winnings.