Poker is a game of cards with some skill mixed in, and it’s one of the most popular card games in the world. You’ll find it in casinos, on television and online, and you can even play it with friends at home. It’s a fun social game that you can learn quickly and make money at if you play it well.

There are many different forms of poker, but the basic rules are the same in all of them. You’re dealt cards, and the object of the game is to win the “pot,” or the total of all bets made during a hand. This is accomplished by making the highest-ranking poker hand or bluffing to get your opponents to fold.

You’ll need a good understanding of the basic rules to get started. Most beginners learn by being taught the game by a friendly dealer who can explain the odds of winning each type of poker hand and show you some sample hands that you can then practice with. They’ll usually also let you play a few practice hands with chips that aren’t real so you can try out the basics of the game.

When you’re playing poker, it’s important to keep in mind your bankroll and not bet more than you can afford to lose. This is especially true if you’re learning the game, as it will take time and patience to become a better player. It’s also a good idea to track your wins and losses so you can see how much you’re winning or losing in the long run.

One of the most important things to remember when playing poker is that you should never let your emotions influence your decision-making. If you’re angry or frustrated, you should step away from the table for a few minutes until you’ve calmed down. Trying to play poker while you’re angry or upset will only lead to bad decisions that could cost you a lot of money in the long run.

Another great thing about poker is that you can play with a variety of people at the same time. You can have as few as two players or as many as 14. However, if there are more than 10 people in the game, it’s often best to divide the table into two groups and deal each group of players five cards on a single hand.

When it’s your turn to act, you can say “call” to match the previous bet or raise it. You should always say your bets out loud so that other players can hear you, and you should always try to be clear about how much you’re betting. A player who says “call” but then pauses before raising it is called a string raise, and this gives other players an unfair advantage. Say the amount of your bet out loud and gather your chips into the pot before you begin to act.