Poker is a card game played by two or more players. It has many variations, but the object of the game is to win the pot, the aggregate of all bets made during one deal. A player wins the pot by having a high-ranking poker hand, or by betting so much that no other player calls his or her bet.

The first step to becoming a good poker player is to learn the rules. Having the basic knowledge of the game allows you to focus on reading other players and developing your own strategy. This will make you a better poker player in the long run.

Before a player begins betting on a hand, he or she must place chips (representing money) in the pot equal to the amount placed by the player who went before him or her. The player who places the first chips in the pot is said to be “in the pot.”

Once a person is in the pot, he or she may call (match) a raise by another player, or raise his or her own stake. A player may also fold and give up his or her chance to win the pot.

In some games, players establish a special fund called a kitty. This is built by “cutting” a low-denomination chip from each pot in which there is more than one raise. The kitty belongs to all the players in the game and can be used for things like food and drinks.