Poker is a card game played by two or more players. It has several variants. The game is primarily about making decisions and betting on the strength of your hand. It is also about learning how to read other players and their reactions, which are often subtle. You can use this knowledge to improve your own play by observing and mimicking other players’ reactions.

After each player receives their 2 hole cards, a round of betting occurs. This round is initiated by the mandatory bets called blinds that each player must place in order to remain active in the hand. Once the betting has concluded, another card is dealt face up. This card is called the flop. A further round of betting ensues, starting with the player to the left of the dealer.

The highest value hand wins. A full house is 3 matching cards of one rank plus 2 matching cards of another rank. A flush is 5 consecutive cards of the same suit. A straight is five cards in sequence but not all from the same suit, such as A-K-2-3-4 of clubs.

Players usually bet with chips, which represent money. This is for convenience and because chips are easier to stack, count, keep track of, and make change with than cash. Some players prefer to bluff by raising their bets when they think they have the best hand. Other players are more conservative and fold early, often allowing the better hand to win.