Poker is a card game that involves betting between players and making the best five-card hand possible. It has many variations, but the core game is the same. It’s important to understand how the game works before playing for money. If you’re new to the game, start with tournaments instead of cash games and work your way up once you have a feel for it. This will help minimize your financial risk and give you the chance to practice strategies without risking too much money.

When it’s your turn, you can choose to call any bets (place the same amount of chips in the pot as the person before you) or raise them. It’s usually a good idea to raise, as it forces weaker hands out of the pot and increases your chances of having a strong hand.

Once everyone has two cards, there’s another round of betting. During this round, the dealer will reveal one more card, which is called the flop. There’s now seven cards in play – the two you hold and the five community cards.

The winner is the player with the strongest hand. This can be a straight, a flush, three of a kind, or a pair. If no one has a better hand, the pot is split between the players with the highest pair. Regardless of the type of poker being played, there are a few rules that all players should follow. These include being clear on how much you’re betting and not telling other players what you’ll do before it’s your turn.