Poker is a card game played by two or more players. A player may choose to check, which means not betting, or to raise. In this case, other players can either call the new bet or fold. The raiser must then reveal their cards to the other players. If they have a good hand, they win the pot (all bets made during that round).

To begin, players must place an initial amount of money into the pot before any cards are dealt. This is called the ante, blind, or bring-in. This helps prevent players from putting too much money into the pot without having a good chance of winning.

Players then receive two cards, known as hole cards, and five community cards are dealt face up in three stages: a series of three, a single card, known as the flop, and another single card, referred to as the turn. The best five-card poker hand wins the pot, which is all of the bets placed during that round.

In addition to the rules of poker, it’s also helpful to understand some of the other variants of the game. This will help you build your instincts and be better prepared to read other players. For example, a player who frequently blinks may be concealing the fact that they have weak cards. A player who chews gum may be trying to mask nervousness. Observe these tells and use them to your advantage.