Poker is a card game played by two or more players. The game has a lot of variations, but at its core each player starts the hand with two private cards and over the course of several betting rounds one player makes a five-card poker hand to win the pot.
A player can decide to check (a pass on their turn), call (match the highest bet so far), or raise (increase the amount of money in the pot). In some games like Pot Limit a player cannot raise more than the size of the current pot, which helps keep the game fair and ensures that no one is going all-in for too much.
After a player has checked or called the first round of betting is over and three more cards are dealt face up on the table. These are known as the community cards and anyone can use them to make a hand. A second round of betting takes place after the flop is revealed.
The best poker hands are a straight or flush, which contain consecutive cards of the same suit. A full house is made up of 3 matching cards of the same rank and 2 matching cards of another rank. A pair is a two cards of the same rank and a third unmatched card. A tie is a push and the winnings are shared. It is important to practice and watch experienced players to develop quick instincts and build a solid foundation of knowledge.