Poker is a card game in which players place chips (representing money) into a pot and compete for the highest-ranking hand. There are many different forms of the game, but most involve a minimum of six players. Players place their bets by raising, calling or checking.

The game is played with poker chips, the standard being a white chip worth one unit of the minimum ante or bet, and a red chip worth five units. Almost all forms of poker require players to buy in for this amount, and a player who doesn’t do so is said to “buy out” or “drop.”

It’s important for new players to be aware that they may get taken advantage of by experienced opponents. Beginners should learn to raise their hands with strong cards and check or fold their weak ones, rather than call outrageous bets. This will force opponents to make expensive mistakes and will also improve the player’s own chances of winning a hand.

Another key factor to consider when playing poker is positioning. This means being able to see the action before it’s your turn to act, which gives you information about what other players have in their hands. For example, if everyone checks after the flop of A-2-6, you can assume that at least one player has a pair of twos in their hand and will probably bluff with them. It’s difficult to conceal these types of hands, which makes it easier to win with them.