Poker is a card game with hundreds of different variations, but they all share one thing in common: the objective is to make a good five-card hand. Players bet in a round with the goal of winning the pot (the pot is the amount that everyone contributes to the betting). There are various ways of achieving this, including making the best possible hand, bluffing, and reading other players’ tells.

At the start of each hand, each player puts in a bet called an ante. This is a mandatory bet that helps to create an incentive for players to participate. After all players have received their two hole cards, another round of betting takes place. If players are holding a strong hand, they will bet on it to force their opponents to call or raise their bets, and this can help them win the pot.

A strong poker hand requires a combination of your two hole cards and the community cards. It can be a pair of matching cards, three unrelated side cards or an Ace-high straight.

When it is your turn to bet, you can either check (pass on a bet) or call (match the previous player’s bet). You can also fold, but this costs you whatever you have put in so far. It is important to play only with money that you are willing to lose. It is a good idea to keep track of your wins and losses as this will help you determine how much money you can afford to risk on each hand.