The Basics of Poker

Poker is a card game that can be played with two or more players. It is often bluffed, and betting is usually done in units called chips. A white chip is worth the minimum ante or bet; a red chip is worth five whites; and a blue chip is worth 10 or more whites. Players buy in for the amount of chips they want to bet with at the start of the hand.

After each player receives their 2 hole cards, a round of betting begins. This is usually initiated by 2 mandatory bets, called blinds, put into the pot by the players to the left of the dealer.

Once everyone has checked their cards, the next card is dealt. This is known as the flop. Then another card is dealt, referred to as the turn and then finally the river.

If you have a high ranking pair of cards, it is a good idea to bet aggressively. This will make other players think twice about betting and give you a better chance of winning the pot.

There are many variations of poker, but all involve betting and using cards to create a winning hand. Some games award the pot to the highest hand, while others divide it between the highest and lowest hands. Generally speaking, the highest hand contains the highest rank in the deck, and the lowest hand is a pair of aces. However, there are a number of exceptions.