Poker is a game that requires a great deal of skill. It starts out as a simple game of chance and turns into a game of psychology and strategy when betting begins.

A player is said to be “in the pot” if they have any chips in the pot at the time of their turn. A player can also make an all-in bet, which involves placing the total value of their chips in the pot.

The first thing to do when playing poker is to cut the deck. This is done by taking one card from the shuffled deck and passing it clockwise to the next person until someone has the highest card. This person becomes the dealer for that hand.

When a player has two cards of the same rank they are said to have an “out”. If you have a pair of kings and your opponent has a pair of aces you need one of their aces (the one you’re missing) to beat them.

Another important aspect of poker is learning how to read the other players at the table. Reading body language is a good place to start, as well as paying attention to how they bet. It’s also a good idea to practice and watch other experienced players.

While it’s not technically cheating, talking when you aren’t in a hand can ruin the flow of the game for everyone. It’s distracting for others, gives away information and can lead to mistakes being made.