Poker is a game of chance with a lot of skill and psychology involved. The best way to learn the basics is by reading a book or finding a group of players who can teach you. Once you have a basic strategy, you can start learning about more advanced concepts like 4-bets and semi-bluffing.

To play poker you need a standard 52-card English pack, with suits (spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs). Each card has its rank from high to low: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7. There are also two wild cards called jokers in some games that can take the place of any suit or ranking.

The game originated in Asia, with possible roots in 10th-century Chinese domino games and 16th-century Persian poker. It spread to the United States in the early 19th century, popularized by riverboat crews and soldiers on the Mississippi during the Civil War.

In the betting phase of the game, one player designated by the rules of the specific variant makes the first bet. Each player in turn must make a stake equal to or greater than the amount placed by the active player before him. This is called making the pot.

To win at poker, you must know when to check, call, raise and fold. This involves weighing the likelihood of having a good hand against the cost of losing money. It is also a good idea to study your opponents and read their tells, which are unconscious physical cues that reveal bluffing or weakness.