Poker is a game of chance in which players bet money into a pot. The winner of a round takes the entire pot, or shares it among those players who have the best 5-card hands.

The first step in any poker game is to determine who will be the dealer. The dealer is the person responsible for shuffling the cards and dealing them to the players in turn.

Generally, the dealer is a non-player who is given this responsibility for the whole game or just one round. In any case, the person who is the dealer must have a chip that identifies him or her as the dealer.

Before the first round of betting begins, each player must place a small or large amount of money into a pot called an ante. This ante is a forced bet that helps keep players invested in the game.

Beginners in poker often fold all their hands before the flop. This is a mistake because the flop can change your trashy hand into a monster.

It’s also a good idea to bluff with mediocre hands, especially when you are playing at low stakes. This is because it gives you some outs if your bluff fails.

Another good way to determine who you are going to play against is to see their betting patterns. This will help you determine if they are conservative or aggressive, and it will also give you a good understanding of how to read them.