Poker is a card game with a lot of betting and strategy. It is played from a standard deck of 52 cards (some games add jokers) and has a number of variations. The highest hand wins the pot (money). Each player has two personal cards called hole cards and 5 community cards that are shared by everyone at the table. The players put money in a pot, or “bet”, each time it is their turn to act. They may also choose to pass or fold.

When betting comes to you, you may decide to call the bet made by the person to your right or to raise it. If you call the bet, you are putting chips or cash into the pot equal to what the person who came before you raised it.

If you are raising the bet, you must make sure your stake is at least equal to that of the player who came before you. This is called the “matching method”. It ensures that all active players are contributing equally to the pot. This is a good way to protect against players who try to steal the pot from other players with weak hands. It is a good idea to keep track of the hands that you play so that you can analyze them later. This is a great way to learn the rules and improve your game.