Poker is a card game of chance and skill. The rules vary between poker variants, but they all feature betting and the possibility of bluffing. Some forms of the game are played with as few as two players, but most games are for four or more players. The object is to win the pot, which is the sum of all bets made in a deal. A player may win the pot by having the highest-ranking hand or by bluffing and winning when other players call their bets.
The game is usually played with poker chips, which have specific values (white chips are worth one dollar; red chips are worth five dollars; and blue chips are worth 10 whites). Each player must buy in for a certain number of chips before playing. Once all players have bought in, two mandatory bets are placed into the pot by the players to the left of the dealer. Then, each player receives five cards. Players may discard and draw up to three more cards. There is another round of betting, and the players who have the best hands show their cards.
To play well, you should learn to identify aggressive players from conservative ones. Aggressive players are more likely to make big bets, and they can be bluffed into folding with superior hands. More conservative players fold early in a hand, and they can be bluffed more easily by other players who have better cards.