Poker is a card game that involves betting. It is played by two or more players, and the game can be very competitive. There are many different variants of poker, but they all have the same basic rules. A player is given chips that represent money and must put these into the pot, or pool of shared bets, every time they make a move.
In the first betting interval, or round, one player (designated by the rules of the specific game being played) makes a bet. Then each player to the left must call this bet by putting in as many chips into the pot as the bet. If they can’t, they must drop (“fold”) and are out of the hand.
After the first round of betting is complete the dealer deals three cards face up on the table that anyone can use, this is called the flop. Then each player has a chance to call, raise or fold their hand.
When you play poker, it is important to learn how to read other players. You can do this by paying attention to “tells,” which are the little things that players do to show their emotions or intentions. For example, if a player who usually calls a lot of bets suddenly raises a lot of money they may have a strong hand. It is also useful to learn how to guess what other people are holding, especially as a beginner.