Poker is a card game in which players try to make the best hand possible from a combination of their own cards and those of the other players. The player with the highest ranking hand wins the pot, which is the sum of all bets made by each player in the particular deal.
A hand is dealt from a pack of cards which is shuffled by the dealer before being dealt to each player in turn. Each player is then required to place an initial amount of money in the pot, usually an ante (in some variants) or blind bet.
In the first betting round, each player is dealt two cards face down, one of which is hidden. Each player then gets a chance to bet or fold before the dealer deals three community cards face up on the board.
Each player then has a chance to bet or fold before another betting round begins, which involves the dealer dealing four more community cards face up on the table. Depending on the variant of poker being played, this may be repeated several times or only once.
Poker is a highly competitive game, and it is important to keep an eye on your opponents. You need to be able to see how aggressive they are, and how often they bluff. This will help you determine how they play and whether you should be a part of their game or not.