The Basics of Poker

Poker is a card game played by two or more players. Each player has two cards, and there are five community cards that all players can use in making a hand. Each player must place chips into the pot (representing money) in an amount equal to or greater than the total stake of the player before him. He does this by saying “call” or similar words to indicate that he wishes to match the bet of the player before him.

Poker was probably invented in the 17th or 18th centuries. It spread quickly and, by the late 19th century, it had reached most parts of the world. There are many different ways to play the game, but the fundamental objective is to win the pot. This is accomplished by raising bets when you have a good hand and folding when you don’t.

A good Poker player should also know how to bluff. A well-executed bluff can make your weak hands seem stronger and may force other players into making bad bets.

Some forms of Poker can be played with two or more players, but the ideal number is six to eight. Each player has a set of poker chips, usually white ones of various denominations, which represent money. For example, a single white chip is worth the minimum bet; a red chip is worth 10 whites, and so on. By agreement, the players in a Poker game establish a fund called the kitty which is used to pay for new decks of cards and for food and drinks. The players may also agree to make special rules, known as house rules, for their own Poker games.