Poker is a card game that involves betting, strategy, and psychology. It is played by two or more players and the object of the game is to create a winning poker hand (or convince others that you have a winning hand). Poker has many variations, but all involve betting and bluffing. In most games, players place forced bets into a pot before they are dealt cards. After the cards are dealt, betting intervals, or rounds, occur in which players may choose to call a bet, raise it, or fold their cards.

The player to the left of the dealer starts each round. When he is first dealt two cards, he can either call the amount of money put into the pot by the player to his right (the big blind), or raise it. If he decides to raise, he puts in a minimum of double the big blind.

After each round, players reveal their hands. The player with the best poker hand wins the pot. In some games, a player can win the pot without showing his cards by making a bet that no one else calls.

To play poker, you must know some basic vocabulary words. For example, if you have pocket kings on the flop but an ace comes up you should consider folding. You can also say “call” to match the highest bet of the round. You can even raise a bet if no one else is raising.