Poker is a card game played by many people. Each person has seven cards, which they are allowed to use to create a hand. If a hand is better than another person’s, that person wins the pot. The other players may be eliminated before the winner can be determined. The aim of the game is to have the highest hand possible. If no player has a winning hand, the pot is split between the players.

There are many different variations of the game, but most games require you to bet an ante. In some games, you can also add blind bets to the ante. These bets happen before each player receives their cards. Each round of the game has a different dealer, and this responsibility is rotated around the table each time. Players take turns making blind bets, and they can raise or fold before the dealer has their chance to act.

The basic hand values in poker vary from game to game, but they all have similar rules. A hand is defined by its classification and is worth more if it is better than a pair of twos, a flush, or a straight. Poker hands are also ranked based on their likelihood of being dealt a specific type of hand.

A good idea for improving the atmosphere at the table is to learn poker etiquette. Learning to observe the unwritten rules of the game can improve your chances of winning. One example is not to angle shoot. Angle shooting is an unethical move. While it may seem obvious, this tactic has evolved into a gray area in poker.