Poker is a card game of skill and chance, played by two or more people. The object is to win the pot, which is the sum of all bets made during a hand. There are many different variations of the game, but all involve betting in some way and the sharing of cards. The game can be played with as few as two people, but is most often played with more.

In some variants of the game, players make forced bets before being dealt cards. These bets are called the ante and blind. The dealer then shuffles the cards and deals them to the players one at a time, beginning with the player on his or her right. The cards may be dealt either face up or down. Each player then has seven cards to create a winning poker hand: the two personal cards in his or her hand plus the five community cards on the table.

To be successful at poker, you must learn to read other players and look for their tells, which are unconscious habits that reveal information about the strength of a player’s hand. These tells can include anything from fiddling with chips to a nervous tic or gesture.

A player must also be able to adjust his or her style to fit the game. For example, if you are playing against aggressive players, you must be able to call their bets and even raise them if you have a strong hand.