Poker is a card game played between two or more players. The objective is to make the best five-card hand using the cards you are dealt. There are many different poker games and variations, but most have the same core principles. Players begin the game by purchasing a set of chips, each worth a specific value. A white chip, for example, is worth a minimum ante or bet; a red chip is worth five whites; and a blue chip is worth 10 or 20 whites. Then the players place these chips into a pot, or into a betting circle, whichever is appropriate for the game being played.
Once the players have all of their chips in the pot, a round of betting begins. A player can call (match the amount of money put into the pot by the previous player), raise (bet more than the amount that the player last raised), or fold. If a player folds, they forfeit any chips they have paid into the pot and are not eligible to win that hand.
Studying and observing experienced players is a valuable way to improve your poker skills. You can learn from their mistakes and avoid similar pitfalls in your own gameplay, as well as understand the reasoning behind their successful moves. However, remember that every situation is unique and you should always develop your own instincts.