Poker is a card game in which players form the highest-value hand from the combination of their personal cards and the community cards on the table. It’s a game of smarts, mental toughness, and attrition. But it’s also a numbers game — and knowing how to read the odds can help you win more often.

During each betting interval, one player, determined by the rules of the specific variant being played, has the privilege or obligation of making the first bet. This player places chips in the pot – representing money, of course — at least equal to the total contribution of the player before him. Then he is “in the pot,” and can either call, raise, or fold.

Each player has a pair of cards — their hole cards — plus the five community cards on the table. The player with the best hand wins the pot, unless they choose to fold (dropping out of the round). The dealer shuffles and cuts the cards, and then deals them to the players one at a time, beginning with the player on their left. The cards may be dealt face-up or face-down, depending on the rules of the game.

The ante is the first, usually small amount of money that all players must put into the pot before they receive their cards. After the ante is placed, the players begin betting in turn. If a player has a strong hand, they might bet – or raise – to increase the value of their chip stack. They might also bluff to make others think they have a strong hand and then fold.

To play well in poker, you need to learn how to read other players and their tells. Tells aren’t just the physical gestures, like fiddling with a ring or a chip, but can include the way a player talks and how they play. A player who usually calls everyone and then makes a huge raise might be holding a monster hand.

Another skill that will set you apart from newer players is the ability to calculate ranges. This means working out how many different hands the other players could have, and then calculating how likely it is that your own hand will beat theirs. With this knowledge, you can place a range bet that will maximize your chances of winning.