Poker is a card game for 2 to 14 players where the object is to win the pot (money or chips). Each player contributes to the pot in turn and may raise, call, or fold. The first player to do so starts the betting interval. The player with the highest-ranking hand at the end of the betting interval wins the pot.
Players place bets by placing chips in front of them, adding to an ever-growing pile that is known as the pot. The rules of each variant differ, but the general principles are the same: each player must place chips into the pot that at least equal the amount of the bet placed by the person before him, or he must fold.
A player with the best five-card hand wins the pot. The highest-ranking hands are Royal flush, Straight flush, Four of a kind, Three of a kind, and Two pair. Other hands have lower values and can be played as either high or low cards.
Bluffing is an important part of the game but should only be attempted by experienced players. Beginners should focus on learning relative hand strength and how to read other players rather than attempting complicated bluffing strategies.
Observe experienced players and consider how you would react in their position to build your own instincts. Keep a notebook and write down what you see, so that you can recall it at the table. This will help you develop good poker strategy.
