The Basics of Poker

Poker is a card game in which players compete to form the highest-ranking hand in order to win the pot. The pot consists of all the bets made by players in a particular round. A player may also win the pot by making a bet without showing his or her hand. This is called a “bluff.” The more players in a game, the higher the chances of winning the pot with a bluff.

Each round of poker starts with each player buying in for a number of chips. Each player receives two cards that are hidden from other players (except for the dealer). The dealer is responsible for shuffling and dealing the cards to each player. In some games, a non-player may be designated as the dealer, but this role is usually passed to a different player after each round.

Some forms of poker require that all players make a bet before being dealt their cards. This bet is called an ante, and it is usually made with a white chip. A dark-colored chip called a blind bet may be used in place of an ante, or it may be added to the ante.

After the ante is placed, betting begins in clockwise order. A player can call, raise or fold during this phase. If a player raises and no one calls, the player wins the pot. A player can also make an all-in bet, which requires that the player put all of his or her chips into the pot. This is a special type of bet with specific rules.