Poker is a card game that can be played by 2 to 14 people. Players place bets using chips (or cash) and aim to make the best 5-card hand by combining their own two cards with the five community cards. The highest-ranking hand wins the pot.

A player can stay in the pot without showing their cards if they can match or exceed the amount of money raised by the last raiser. However, if a player cannot meet this requirement and does not want to raise more than his original stake, he must leave the pot before a showdown.

There are many different strategies to improve a poker hand, but the most important thing is to have good instincts and read the other players. This is especially important when playing in tournaments, where the number of opponents can affect the odds of winning. It is also helpful to watch experienced players and learn how they react to certain situations. This can help you to develop your own tells.

During each hand, one player acts as dealer and has the button (shown by the black circle in the image). This person will play last at every stage of betting, and the order of play passes clockwise around the table after each bet. The player to the left of the dealer will act first.