Poker is a game of chance, but it also teaches you skills that can help you in life. You learn how to manage your money, bet correctly, and make smart decisions. You also develop patience and a strong sense of strategy.

The rules of poker are simple. Each player must put up a small amount of money to play, called an ante. Once everyone has their ante, the dealer deals two cards to each player. Then, players can bet, raise, or fold.

If a player calls, they will be dealt another card and have a chance to win the pot by making the best five-card hand. If they raise, they add more money to the pot and make the next betting round.

There are 10 ways to win in 5-card poker. The highest is the straight, which is five consecutive cards of one suit.

A common way to win is by bluffing, which is when you try to fool other players into thinking that your hand is better than it really is. If you bluff, you may be able to trick someone into betting more than they should, which can then lead to a large pot.

You can read other players by observing their patterns and habits. This means paying attention to the times they bet, raise, or fold. This can give you a good idea of what their holdings are, as well as the odds that they have weaker hands.