Poker is a card game that involves betting and raising money, or “the pot”, to form the highest-ranking hand at the end of each round. The player with the best hand wins. If players tie, the pot is split. Players can also win the pot by making a bet that no one else calls, forcing other players to fold their hands.
A round of betting begins once all players have received their 2 hole cards. There are two mandatory bets called blinds put into the pot by players to the left of the dealer, and then 1 more card is dealt face up on the flop. The next round of betting is again started by the player to the left of the dealer.
Once the flop is dealt, a player must decide whether to call, raise or fold their hand. It is important to play a tight range of strong and/or playable hands and to be aggressive when raising, as this can put opponents on the back foot and make them make mistakes.
You can also gain an edge by learning to read your opponents and watching for tells. These are small signals that give other players bits of information about your own hand and their own strength or weakness. For example, if a player who has been calling all night suddenly raises, they are likely holding a very strong hand. The way they move their arm, fiddle with their chips or ring can also be a tell.