Learn the Basics of Poker

Poker is a card game that can be played by two or more players. The aim of the game is to win the pot, which is the total amount of all bets placed during a hand. Players can call, raise or fold their hands during the betting rounds.

In the first round of betting, each player gets 2 cards. Then they decide whether to call or raise the bet that is already made. If they want to call the bet, they say “call” or “I’m calling”. They then place chips or cash into the pot.

Once all players have called or folded it’s time for the flop. The dealer then puts 3 community cards on the table that everyone can use, this is called the flop. Then there is another round of betting and you can decide to stay in the hand or fold.

You should always have a clear idea of what your opponents have and how strong your own hand is. This will help you to make better decisions.

One important thing to remember is that you should never gamble more than you are comfortable losing. When you’re learning poker, it’s a good idea to set a limit for how much you are willing to lose in a session and stick with it. It’s also a good idea to track your wins and losses to see how you’re doing over the long term. This will help you to identify patterns in your play and improve your strategy.