Poker is a card game played by two or more players. There are many different forms of poker, but they all involve betting and a showdown with the highest five-card hand winning the pot (all bets made in a single round). Poker is a game where luck plays an important role but skill can overcome this.

The first step is to shuffle the cards and deal each player 2 cards. There is then a round of betting starting with the player to the left of the dealer. This is called the flop. Then another card is dealt face up on the table – the turn. Then the last card is dealt – the river. There is one more round of betting.

A player can say raise if they want to put more money into the pot before seeing their opponent’s cards. They can also say call if they want to match the amount of money someone else has bet. If they have a good hand, they can say fold.

It’s important to learn how to read the other players at your table. Identify conservative players who only stay in a hand when they have a good one and aggressive players who are more likely to make risky calls. Learning how to read these types of players will help you improve your strategy and make better decisions.