Poker is a game of chance, but when you add betting it becomes a game of skill and psychology. There are many different formats for poker, but most of them involve players buying in for a set amount of chips. Each chip is worth a specific amount (for example, white chips are usually worth a minimum of one unit; reds are worth five units; and blues are often worth 10 or 20 units).

Once all players have received their two hole cards, a round of betting begins. Each player must either “call” the bet by placing the same amount of chips in the pot as the player before them, or they can raise the bet (“raise”) by adding more chips to the pot. In some games, it’s possible to draw replacement cards after the betting round, but this isn’t standard in most poker games.

It’s important to pay attention to the other players at the table. Reading other players is a major part of poker strategy and it can be difficult to master. However, many of the best poker reads come not from subtle physical tells such as scratching your nose or playing nervously with your chips, but instead from patterns that players display. For instance, if a player is always betting then it’s likely that they are holding some pretty weak cards. On the other hand, if a player is folding all the time then it’s safe to assume they are playing some fairly strong hands.