Poker is a card game where players make bets and raise them as their hands develop. The aim is to win the pot, which is the sum of all bets in one hand. The number of players can vary but 6 or 8 players is the ideal number. There are many variations of poker but all involve betting in some way and the players compete to get the best hand.

There are also side pots, where bets can be placed on the side of the main pot. These can be won by players with a better hand than the winner of the main pot.

The dealer shuffles the cards and then deals them to the players, starting with the player to their left. The cards may be dealt face up or face down. Players can then decide to fold, call or raise.

A good poker player needs several skills to succeed. They need discipline to stick to a strategy and patience to play the long game. They must also be able to read their opponents and identify tells. A tell is a unconscious habit that gives away information about a player’s hand. It can be as subtle as a change in posture or facial expression.

A good hand starts with two distinct pairs of cards. The higher the pair, the more likely it is to win. A high card is used to break ties when no other hands qualify as pairs or better.