Poker is one of the most popular card games around. It’s an addicting game that has a lot of history behind it. There are a lot of different variations of poker, but the basic rules remain the same. Each game involves putting in chips, betting on your hand and winning or losing it all. Some people make a living playing poker, and others just play it for fun.

In the beginning of a poker hand, you put in a small amount of money, called a blind or an ante. Then you are dealt cards, which you keep secret from other players. After everyone has their two cards, they begin to act in a round of betting. They may raise, call or fold in order to win the pot of money.

Saying “call” means you are placing a bet that matches the last person to act. For example, if the player to your left raised, then you would say “call.”

In addition to figuring out what your own hand has, it’s important to look at what other players might have. This is a skill that takes practice, but it can be extremely useful in increasing your chances of winning. You can use the information you gather by watching your opponents to make decisions based on what you think they will do. For example, if you notice that a player is usually a big raiser, you might want to bet hard.