Poker is a card game in which players place bets on their own or on other players’ hands. The game is a popular pastime for many people, both in homes and in casinos around the world. Some people even make a living from poker.

There are many different variations of poker, but all are played with cards and chips. The cards are dealt to the players in sequence and each player then bets on his or her hand. Some players bet aggressively in hopes of winning a large amount. Others play defensively in order to minimize their losses. A good poker player must know how to read the other players’ bets and body language, which is known as “tells.”

Depending on the rules of the game, one or more players must put up an initial amount of money into the pot before the cards are dealt. These bets are called blinds and they are usually placed by the players to the left of the dealer.

When the first round of betting begins, each player must either call (match) that bet or raise it. If a player cannot match or exceed the amount raised by the previous player, they must fold and forfeit their bets.

In addition to reading the other players’ bets, a good poker player must be able to calculate the odds of getting a high or low hand. They must also be able to adjust their strategy when their odds change from round to round.