Poker is a card game that requires skill to win. It can be played in a tournament or for cash. There are many different variations of the game, but most have a few basic rules. In most cases, the object is to win the pot, which is the sum of all the bets made during a hand. This pot can be won by having the highest-ranking hand or by bluffing.

The first step in Poker is to place an initial contribution, called an ante, into the pot. This is mandatory and it is a way to increase the value of the hand by attracting players.

After the ante is placed, there are several betting intervals before the cards are dealt. During these intervals, each player can either check (passing on betting), bet (putting chips into the pot that their opponents must match), or raise their bet (putting in more money than the previous player).

There are four main types of Poker hands. A full house consists of three matching cards of one rank and two matching cards of another rank. A flush is any 5 consecutive cards of the same suit (clubs, hearts, diamonds or spades). Two pair consists of two cards of one rank plus two unmatched cards. And a straight is five consecutive cards, but they can be from different suits.

Using a good bluffing strategy and luck, a weak hand can still win the pot. However, a good Poker player will always weigh their chances to maximize their winnings.