Poker is a card game played by two or more players. Each player is dealt 2 cards and there is a round of betting which begins with the person to the left of the dealer. The dealer is responsible for shuffling the deck and dealing out the cards. Sometimes a non-player is assigned dealer responsibilities but in most games the player takes turns as the dealer. There is usually a chip that designates who is the dealer each hand which is passed clockwise around the table.

The object of the game is to win the pot (a sum of bets) by making a good poker hand or by bluffing. Bluffing is an advanced strategy that must be used sparingly.

To become a good poker player you must understand the rules and be able to read your opponents. This can be accomplished by analyzing body language and eye contact as well as studying past hands. Often a player will have a tendency to play conservatively or aggressively which is why it is important to learn their tendencies and know what type of hands they are most likely holding.

It is also important to study how a player bets and when they will fold. This will help you determine if they are bluffing and how much risk to take on your own hands. This knowledge is invaluable in winning the most money from a table. You should also spend time learning the basic card rank order and what position at a poker table means for your odds of winning.