The Basics of Poker

Poker is a card game in which players make wagers on the outcome of a hand. It can be played with two to 14 people, but the ideal number of players is six or seven. There are many variants of poker, but most share certain principles.

The game begins with a single dealer dealing a full deck of cards to each player. The cards are dealt face up, one at a time, until a jack appears. The player who receives the first jack becomes the first dealer. The dealer then shuffles the cards, and offers them to the player to their right for a cut. If the player declines, any other player may cut.

Each player is then dealt five cards. The highest-ranking hand wins the pot, which is the total of all bets placed in a single betting round. Each player can also choose to discard and draw replacement cards to their hands, or “hold pat” on the cards they have.

When it’s your turn to act, you can say “I call” if you want to match the last bet or raise it. You can also fold, meaning that you won’t bet and will pass your turn to the next person. It’s important to understand the betting patterns of your opponents, because aggressive players can bluff and win more than you can. There are four types of poker players: the tourist, the amateur, the money hugger and the pro.