Poker is a card game with a history that goes back over 300 years. It is a game of chance and psychology that is characterized by bluffing and misdirection. It is also a game that requires a high level of concentration and mental discipline to play well.

Each player begins the game with a supply of poker chips. Typically, a white chip is worth one unit of the minimum ante or bet; a red chip is worth five units; and a blue chip is worth 10 or 20 or 25 units. Players may use other colors, but these are not commonly used in poker.

After each player has his or her initial two private cards the dealer then deals a third card face up to the table. This is known as the flop. During this betting round players have the option to fold (drop out of the hand), call (match the highest bet so far) or raise.

In the end, the person who has the best poker hand wins the pot. While it is true that luck plays a significant role in the outcome of a specific hand, long-run expectations are determined by decisions made by players based on probability, psychology and game theory.

Learning to read other players is a key component of poker success. Good poker players focus as much on what their opponents are holding as they do on their own cards. This is what separates beginners from pros.