Poker is a card game played by two or more players. It is a game of chance but betting adds an element of strategy and psychology. The basic objective is to create a five-card hand that ranks higher than the others.

Players in a poker game place chips into the pot (money bet in a round) by calling, raising or folding their hands. The player that puts the most chips into the pot wins the round. Players can also go “all in,” putting all of their remaining chips into the pot with a strong hand. This is often the best move when opponents have committed a large amount of their stacks and you are confident that you can win the round.

The first person to the left of the dealer has to pay a small blind and the player to his or her immediate right must pay a big blind. This is called a forced bet and helps to keep the game fair. Once the blinds have been paid, the cards are dealt.

Position has a huge impact on your starting hand range and overall strategy. Earlier positions like the SB and BB put more money at risk than later positions. In addition, players in early positions must work with less information than their opponents.

As the round progresses, the bet sizes increase. Each player can fold, check, call, or raise the bet size of a previous player. After the final betting round, a showdown occurs where each player shows their hand. The player with the best hand wins the pot.