Poker is a game of chance, but it also involves a lot of skill and psychology. The goal is to use the cards you’re dealt to create a high-ranking poker hand. If you can do that, you’re likely to win the pot.
There are a few basic rules to follow when playing poker. First, always make sure you’re not putting too much money into the pot. That is, don’t raise too often and put the other players at a disadvantage. Likewise, don’t call too often or put too little into the pot.
During the betting rounds players can check (no bet), bet (put money into the pot), call (match another player’s bet), or raise (bet a higher amount than a previous player’s bet). The action starts to the left of the dealer and moves clockwise.
Once the betting round before the flop is complete the dealer puts three more cards on the board that anyone can use. Then everyone gets the opportunity to bet again and decide if they want to fold, raise or call.
Since you can’t see your opponents’ hands, every action they take gives you bits of information that allow you to build a story about them. For example, if someone takes a long time to make a decision it usually means they have a strong hand. If they take a short time it might mean that they have a weak hand or are trying to bluff you out of the pot.