Poker is a card game in which players wager chips on each hand. The player with the highest-ranking hand wins the pot, or total amount of money bet during a round. The game can be played with as few as two people, but in most forms the ideal number is six or seven. A player may raise or call a bet during the course of a hand, and may fold if he does not want to compete for the pot.
Observing the tells of your opponents is important, but it is best not to place too much emphasis on unconscious tells. It is also important to realize that many tells are a combination of several factors. For example, a player who blinks rapidly may be signaling that he is nervous or excited. The shortest tells are usually more reliable than the longest ones.
Winning poker hands include the Royal flush (aces, kings, queens, and jacks of the same suit), Straight flush, Four of a kind, Full house, Flush, Three of a kind, Two pair, and High card. The highest card breaks ties in the case of a tie between two pairs.
A player who does not call a bet during a round forfeits his rights to any side pots that may have been created during the hand. In addition, he may lose his right to win the main pot by having a lower-ranked hand than another player who called the bet.