Poker is a game of cards where players bet into a pot at the end of each hand. The highest hand wins the pot. There are a number of ways to win a hand, but the strongest is five of a kind. A straight contains five consecutive cards of the same suit (they can skip around in rank or sequence). Three of a kind is three matching cards of one rank plus two unmatched cards. High card breaks ties if no one has any of the above hands.

Each player starts with 2 cards face down (hidden from other players). They then place their bets. If they have a good hand they may say ‘hit’ or ‘stay’. If they have a weak hand they might say ‘fold’, putting their cards back into the deck.

Once everyone has placed their bets the dealer puts 3 more cards on the table that anyone can use. These are called the flop. The betting continues until one player has a strong enough hand to call or raise all the remaining bets.

When it’s your turn to act you have a few choices: You can call the highest bet made in the round, you can raise a call or you can fold your hand. It is important to remember that position is very important, as the earlier in the hand you act, the less information you have about your opponents. It’s also a good idea to practice and observe experienced players, so that you can develop your instincts.