The game of poker is a card game that involves making the best five-card hand based on rank and suit in order to win the pot (the sum of all bets placed throughout the betting rounds). To begin each round, players must place an initial amount into the pot called antes, blinds, or bring-ins. Ultimately, the goal is to form the best hand, which includes a high-ranking pair (two cards of the same rank and three unmatched cards), a full house (3 matching cards of one rank, plus two unmatched cards of another rank), a flush (5 cards of consecutive ranks in the same suit), or a straight (five cards that are of the same rank but skip around in sequence).

Reading other players is an important part of the game. This doesn’t always mean looking for subtle physical poker tells, but rather observing how your opponents react to certain situations. For example, if an opponent is always calling and then suddenly raises, they may be holding a very strong hand.

Depending on the rules of the particular game, the dealer deals two cards to each player, known as hole cards. Then a round of betting takes place where players can call, raise or fold. After the betting round is over, the dealer deals a third card to the table, known as the flop, and then another single card, called the turn. During this time, players can continue to bet or raise again.