Poker is a card game in which players place chips (representing money) into the pot according to their decisions. The highest hand wins the pot. Players may also win by bluffing, betting that they have the best hand when in fact they do not, and then conceding if players holding superior hands call their bets.

There are a number of important basic concepts that must be understood before one can play poker well. The most important of these is the concept that a player’s hand is only as good or bad as it is in relation to what the other players are holding. For example a pair of kings is a great hand but it will lose to an opponent’s ace 82% of the time.

Another important concept is that a player must understand the meaning of position and how it affects the value of their hand. Finally, a player must learn how to read other players. This is not easy and much of this reading involves subtle physical tells, but a large part of it can be learned by watching other players.

When it is a player’s turn to act, they must say “call” if they wish to bet the same amount as the last person did or say “raise” if they want to increase the size of the bet. This process continues until all players are done with their cards and show them for a showdown. The player with the best five card poker hand wins the pot.