Poker is a card game played by two or more players and involves betting on the outcome of a hand. There are many variants of poker, but the goal is always to win the pot, which is the sum of all bets made by players in a given deal. A player may win the pot either by having a high-ranking poker hand or by making a bet that no other players call.
To begin the game, each player places an ante (the amount varies by game), and then cards are dealt. Each player has two personal cards and five community cards that are shared with the other players. A round of betting then takes place, and the best 5-card poker hand wins the pot.
Depending on the game rules, players may also be allowed to draw replacement cards during or after the betting round. This can change the strength of a hand or make it possible to form an unbeatable one.
When betting comes around to you, you can say “call” to make a bet equal to the last bet or raise (“raise” means to add more money than the previous bet). If you want to fold your cards, you say “fold.” It is important to learn about tells, which are unconscious habits of a player that give away information about their hands. These can include things like body language, eye contact, and gestures. The more you play and watch other players, the better your instincts will become.