Poker is a card game played between two or more players and the object of the game is to win money, or the pot, by making the highest ranked hand. There are many variations of poker, but they all have the same core rules. To start a hand each player must put up some amount of money, or chips, into the pot (called blinds). This first bet is called the ante. Each player has the option to call, raise, or fold his cards during a betting interval.
When the flop is dealt there will be another round of betting, this time starting with the player to the left of the dealer. After everyone has a chance to bet, 2 more cards are added to the board face up and this is known as the turn. Again, each player has the opportunity to bet, check, raise, or fold. The dealer then puts a final card down that anyone can use, this is called the river. The final betting hand is then revealed and the player with the highest ranked hand wins the pot.
A key to good poker is looking beyond your own cards and thinking about what other people might have in their hands. This helps you make decisions based on probability, psychology, and game theory. It also helps you avoid mistakes like calling a raise with a weak hand in late position. The more you play poker and observe experienced players, the better your instincts will become.