Poker is a card game in which players place bets on a hand. The object is to win the pot, which is a sum of all bets made on that hand. A player may win the pot by having the highest hand, or by making a bet no one else calls. There are many different poker games, but most have the same basic rules.

In a game of poker, the cards are dealt face down to each player. Then each player acts in turn, putting in a bet according to the rules of the game. This can be done by calling, raising, or folding.

Then the dealer shuffles and deals again. This process is repeated until all players have 5 cards in their hands. Then a final betting round occurs, after which the winner is declared.

Some people think that luck plays a larger role in poker than others, but this is not necessarily true. While it’s certainly possible to have a bad streak, the game is ultimately based on skill, and the element of winning or losing money is what makes the game so exciting.

There are a lot of factors that go into predicting other players’ hands, but it’s not as difficult as you might expect. After a while, it becomes natural to think about things like frequencies and EV estimation. And the more you study, the better these concepts become ingrained in your brain. This will help you make the most of your time at the table.