Poker is a card game in which players bet money to try to make the best hand possible. The game is played in many different forms and is popular around the world, but its basic rules are common to most variations.

A round of betting occurs, with each player betting money until he either runs out of chips or folds. If more than one player remains in contention after the betting rounds, a showdown takes place, where hands are revealed and the winner is determined.

The ante (in some variations, this can also be called a blind bet) is a small amount of money that all players are required to contribute before each hand begins. These bets give the pot a value right off the bat, and are rotated around the table each round.

Another type of bet is called a bring-in, and is the first bet that the player makes after the ante. It is usually smaller than a blind bet, and players often raise it once they are happy with their hand.

When a player doesn’t want to bet anymore, they can “check” which means they pass their turn to the next player. This is common in cash games, where there aren’t many people playing and the bets can be quite large.

Poker is a fast-paced game that requires quick instincts. It’s important to practice and watch others play to build those instincts. This will help you develop them faster and better than trying to memorize tricky systems.