Poker is a card game that is played by two or more people. The goal of the game is to make the best hand and win the pot, which is money that all players put into the center of the table when it is their turn to act. It is important to learn the rules of poker, including the system for ranking hands and how to bluff effectively.
In most games, each player must place a bet before they can see their cards. This is known as the ante. Each player must either call the amount of the bet made by the person to their left, raise it (putting more chips in the pot), or fold. If a player folds, they cannot return to the game until the next deal.
After the first betting round is complete, the dealer places three cards face-up on the board. These are community cards that anyone can use to make a hand. This is called the flop. Then another round of betting occurs, and then the remaining players show their cards to determine the winner.