Poker is a game of skill, chance, and strategy. It can be played by 2 to 14 players. Players place chips into a pot (called the pot) to participate in a hand. The object of the game is to win the pot by having the strongest poker hand at the end of a betting round.
Once everyone has 2 cards, a round of betting begins with the player to the left of the button. The button moves one spot clockwise after each hand. The reason for the button is to provide an incentive for players to play (by giving them something to chase).
After betting, 5 community cards are dealt. These cards are visible to all players. The best 5-card poker hand wins the pot. It’s possible to make a winning poker hand with only your two private cards, but it’s usually better to use the community cards than just your own.
The highest poker hand is a full house, which consists of three distinct pairs and a fifth card that breaks any ties. The next highest hand is a straight, which consists of five consecutive cards of the same rank. A flush consists of 3 cards of the same rank and 2 matching cards of another rank.
It is considered poor form to tell other players how much you are betting, so try not to get too caught up in the game’s unwritten rules of etiquette. However, if you’re a newbie, it’s always worth asking for help from someone more experienced before having a go at the game yourself.