The Basics of Poker

Poker is a card game in which players bet into a common pot to determine the winner of each hand. Players are dealt two cards, known as hole cards, and then five community cards are revealed in three stages — a series of three cards called the flop, an additional card called the turn, and a final single card known as the river. The player with the highest five-card hand wins the pot.

There are a number of different variants of poker, but they all share the same core rules. If you’re new to poker, it’s recommended that you start at lower stakes. This will minimize your financial risk and allow you to experiment with different strategies without the pressure of making large bets. You should also track your decisions and take notes to understand how your game improves over time.

When betting comes around to you, say “call” to match the previous bet and put your chips or cash into the pot. You can also raise a bet to add more money to the pot. If you don’t want to call or raise, you can fold and forfeit the round.

When you’re new to poker, it can be tempting to try to win every hand you play. However, it’s important to remember that not all hands are created equal. A high-ranked hand is usually more valuable than a low-ranked one, and the best hands in poker are royal flushes, straights, four of a kind, and full houses.