Poker is a card game played between two or more players and involves betting, raising and bluffing. It has a wide range of rules and variations, but the basics are important to know before playing. The first step is to understand the different types of hands and their values. A basic knowledge of poker etiquette can also help.
After all players have received their 2 cards, there is a round of betting that starts with the player to the left of the dealer. These bets are called blinds and they are mandatory to create an incentive for players to play.
During the betting round, players may check (pass on betting), call (match the previous highest bet) or raise (add more chips to the pot). You must say your action out loud, and the dealer usually announces who has raised or folded. You can also “drop” your hand, meaning you put no chips into the pot and forfeit your hand to another player.
Once the betting rounds have ended, the dealer will reveal 3 community cards on the table (this is called the flop). A final betting round occurs and then there is a showdown where the best hand wins the pot. The hand with the highest ranking is a straight (five consecutive cards of the same suit) or a full house (3 matching cards of one rank and 2 matching cards of another rank). A pair is made up of two matching cards, and a flush is five cards that match but skip around in order and from more than one suit.