Poker is a card game played by a group of people around a table. The game has many variations, but most forms involve a fixed number of players and a central pot for all bets. Unlike other gambling games, there are no forced bets; money is placed into the pot only if it has positive expected value for the player. This is achieved through a combination of luck, psychology, and game theory.

In the beginning of each hand, one player is designated as the dealer and shuffles the cards. Then the player clockwise to them cuts the deck, and the dealer deals a set amount of cards to each player, depending on the specific game. Each player must then place his or her bets into the pot, which is a collection of chips or cash.

When it is your turn to bet, you can say “call” or simply place your chips into the pot in order to match the previous bet. You can also raise your bet, in which case the other players must either call or fold.

The key to winning a game of poker is making the right calls at the right time. You need to be able to read your opponents, and determine what they have in their hands. This is done by analyzing physical tells, but it can also be accomplished by evaluating how they play each hand (e.g. if they always raise the pot, you may want to play tighter against them). You must also keep in mind that playing it safe can be costly, because sometimes a moderate amount of risk will result in a big reward.