Poker is a popular game that involves betting on hands. Each hand has a value and the higher hand wins the pot. It can be played with as few as two players or as many as ten players. The number of players is up to you, but the optimal number is usually six to eight players. The pot is made up of all the bets made by each player during a single round. A player can win the pot by holding the best hand or by making a bet that no other player calls.
The amount a player may bet depends on the stakes in the game. If the stakes are high enough, a player may raise his/her bet by the amount of money in the pot. However, if there is not enough money in the pot, a player may choose to “all-in,” which means he/she will bet all of his chips, leaving him with nothing to show for it.
There are various betting rules for different types of poker games. Most games require a mandatory ante, or blind, bet at the start of each hand. In addition, some versions feature a big blind and a small blind. The big blind is twice as large as the small blind.