There are many variations of poker, but most games involve 2 or more players and the object is to win pots (money or chips) by taking part in rounds of betting. Winning a pot depends on having the highest-ranked poker hand or by making everyone else fold, so it’s important to learn how to play correctly.
After the dealer deals all players their two hole cards, there is a round of betting initiated by 2 mandatory bets called blinds placed into the pot by the players to the left of the dealer. When it’s your turn to act, you must either call the total stakes of the last player or raise them. If you raise, you must also say “raise” or “I call.”
Then, three more cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table. These are called the flop, and they may change the strength of your own hand. It’s important to study the board and consider what other players could have. For example, if there are a lot of spades on the flop, then any player with a spade will have a flush.
One mistake beginner players make is thinking of their own hand in isolation. For example, they might have pocket kings and think they’re strong, but an ace on the flop is going to spell trouble for them. It’s better to think in ranges, as this makes it harder for opponents to put you on a specific hand.