Poker is a card game in which players wager money. The player with the highest ranked hand wins the pot (all bets made during that particular hand). The rules of poker vary depending on the game being played, but most involve betting between rounds and a showdown where each player shows their cards.
Each player starts the game with a small amount of money, called an ante or blind bet. The dealer then shuffles the deck and deals each player two cards face down, which are their hole cards. The player to the left of the button then begins betting. During a hand, players may make additional forced bets by raising or folding their cards. If they fold, they leave the game.
When a player has a strong hand, they can raise to put pressure on other players to fold. This is known as bluffing and can be very profitable for high-EV hands.
Players can also bet on their cards to increase the value of their hands. A full house is made up of three cards of one rank and two matching cards of another, while a straight is five consecutive cards of the same suit.
Observing the other players in a poker game is an important way to improve your own play. This is because good players will often make the same mistakes as beginners, so identifying those errors can help you avoid making them yourself.