Poker is a card game where players wager chips for the chance to win a hand. The cards are dealt clockwise around the table with one person acting as dealer. The order of betting is determined by a token known as the dealer button (or buck).
A player may make one or more bets during a hand by placing their chips in the pot. They can also choose to “call” a previous bet, raising the amount they put in the pot. A player may also decide to “fold” and discard their hand. If they fold, they lose any money they’ve placed in the pot.
There are many different poker games, and each one has its own rules. No Limit Hold’em is the most popular poker game and it’s the one you’ll most likely encounter in a casino or home game. But other games exist as well, such as Pot Limit Omaha or Chinese Poker.
Despite the fact that poker is a game of chance, it is also a game of skill and psychology. A good poker player will choose actions that have positive expected value based on probability and game theory.
It is important to always play with money you’re willing to lose. When learning, it’s recommended that you start with a bankroll that can afford to lose a certain number of bets in the limit you’re playing at. As your experience grows you can increase your bankroll and begin to track your wins and losses.