Poker is a card game for two or more players that requires a certain amount of money to play. Players purchase chips, which represent money, to place in a pot that is shared among the winners of each hand. A white chip is worth one unit, while a blue and red chip each represent five units. When the first player places an ante, the rest of the players must match that amount.
Once everyone has a complete set of cards, the dealer shares the fourth card in the center of the table and there is another round of betting. The highest-ranking hand wins the pot.
While luck does play a role in poker, the game is mostly about reading your opponents. The best way to do this is to watch the other players and notice patterns in their behavior. For instance, if someone is betting all the time then they are probably playing a strong hand.
Players may also bluff, meaning that they bet when they don’t have the strongest hand. This can be an effective strategy if the players with superior hands don’t call the bluff.
