Poker is a card game that can be played by two or more players. The object of the game is to win the pot, which is the sum of all the bets made during a deal. There are several ways to win the pot, including having the highest-ranking hand or betting a significant amount of money that no one else calls.

The rules of poker differ slightly from game to game, but there are some fundamentals that all players must understand. For instance, all players must always have a certain number of chips in the pot in order to call a bet. Players can also raise, which means they place a higher number of chips in the pot than the player who raised before them. This forces the other players to make a decision about whether or not they want to continue in the hand.

Another important rule of poker is to only play with money that you are comfortable losing. It is a very easy mistake to get caught up in the excitement of the game and start to gamble more than you can afford. This will quickly deplete your bankroll and cause you to lose confidence in your ability to play the game. To be a successful poker player, you must learn to make smart decisions about your limits, game selection, and other factors that can affect your profits. You must also be disciplined enough to stay committed to improving your skills over time.