Poker is a card game played with two or more players and where the object is to win the pot. The pot is the sum of all bets made by players during a deal. There are many variants of poker, but the majority use an ante up system.

In a hand of poker you start with 5 cards. You can play a variety of hands such as a straight, a flush or even a full house. But it is not the highest hand that wins, it is how you play your hand.

The best way to learn how to play poker is by playing a lot and observing your opponents. This is especially important in a live game where you have a real opportunity to study your opponent’s actions and exploit their mistakes.

A good understanding of poker mathematics will also make your game better. Concepts like balance, frequencies and EV estimation will become second nature as you practice poker more and more.

Saying “call” means you want to put the same amount as the person before you into the pot. For example if the player before you raises you by $1, then you can say “call” to match his bet and place $10 into the pot. You will then have the option to fold if you don’t think you have a good hand.