Poker is a card game that involves betting. It can be played by two or more players, though ideally there are six or seven at the table. The object of the game is to win the pot, which is the sum of all bets made during a hand. This can be done by either having the highest-ranking poker hand or by bluffing successfully. The game of poker involves significant chance, but there is also a great deal of skill involved in deciding when to call or raise bets and when to fold them.

To start a hand, each player must place an amount called the ante (the amount varies by game), and then the dealer shuffles the cards and deals one card to each player. The player to their right cuts the deck, and then the first of several betting rounds commences.

After the first round of betting, the dealer deals three more cards to the center of the table. These are known as the flop, and they become community cards that all players can use in their poker hands.

The most important aspect of winning at poker is staying disciplined and sticking to a plan. There are always going to be times when it is tempting to make a bad call or a bluff. However, if you can resist these temptations, you will find that the gap between break-even beginner players and big winners is much smaller than you might expect.