Poker is a card game of chance that involves skill, strategy and bluffing. Although there are dozens of different poker variations, they all have the same basic rules: players bet chips and either win the hand or lose it all. Each game also has its own rules about how players can make bets, but in general there are two mandatory bets: a small amount called a blind and an ante. Players must place these bets before they receive their cards. The player who has the highest ranked hand at the end of the betting round wins the pot (all of the chips that have been bet during the hand).
Each player is dealt 2 cards face down and 1 card face up. There are then several rounds of betting where each player can choose to “call” a bet by putting the same number of chips into the pot as any preceding player or raise it, by putting more money into the pot than the previous player. Players may also drop (“fold”), in which case they forfeit their hand and leave the table.
The highest ranked hands are Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Three of a Kind and Two Pair. The lowest ranked hands are High Card, Ace High, Low Card and One Pair. It is important to study these hands and learn how to recognize tells from other players. Practice and watch experienced players to build quick instincts.