Poker is a card game played by two or more players. The object of the game is to win a pot, which is the sum total of all the bets placed over a series of rounds. There are several different types and variants of poker, but the basic game is always the same: cards are dealt to each player, betting occurs over a series of rounds, and the best hand wins the pot.
At the start of a hand, players buy in for a set amount of chips. The first player to act can call, raise, or fold. Each player must make a decision by the end of the round, or they will forfeit their remaining chips.
During the pre-flop and flop phases of the game, each player bets one chip at a time. On the river, each player bets two chips. The highest five-card poker hand wins the pot, which is the sum of all bets made during the game.
To become a great poker player, you must develop an understanding of probability and statistics. Fortunately, there are a variety of free online resources available to help you learn these concepts. In addition, starting to play at lower stakes will minimize financial risk and allow you to experiment with your strategy without feeling under pressure.
As you continue to play poker, you will begin to develop an intuition for these concepts. Over time, your ability to understand the underlying math behind poker — things like frequencies and EV estimation — will become second nature.