Poker is a game in which players bet money on the cards they hold. It is a card game, but can be played with any number of players and in several variations. It is a game of chance and psychology, but it has significant strategic elements as well. Poker is a gambling game because players wager money for a chance to win more on an uncertain outcome.

Players in poker must put a certain amount of chips into the pot (representing money) to have the right to call or raise other players’ bets. This sum is called the pot size. The player with the highest-ranked hand wins the pot. The pot may be split amongst the players or the winning player can choose to re-raise his bet and take over the whole pot.

After the initial round of betting, the flop is dealt and there is another round of betting. Then the final card, called the turn, is dealt face up and a third round of betting begins. The person with the strongest 5-card hand wins the pot.

Understanding how to read the betting patterns of other players is important for success in poker. Conservative players typically fold early, while aggressive players often bet high in order to scare other players into folding. This allows experienced players to bluff with confidence and increase their winnings. The relationship between pot odds and odds of winning is also a key concept to understand.