Learn the Basics of Poker

Poker is a card game played by two or more players. It is a game of betting, where each player places an amount of money into the pot before seeing his or her cards. The object of the game is to make a winning hand with five cards. This may be achieved by making a pair, three of a kind, straight, flush, or a full house. You can also win by bluffing, and you can use your position to your advantage.

When deciding what to do with your hands, remember that it is often best to fold if you have a bad one, or to raise when you have a strong one. This will price all the worse hands out of the pot and allow you to take advantage of your position. If your opponent is in late position and has a weak or drawing hand, you should usually raise to try and steal the pot from them.

To start playing poker, you will need to understand the rules of the game and some of the terminology used by experienced players. For example, if the person to your left raises before you, say “call.” This means you want to bet the same amount as the last player, placing your chips or cash into the pot.

Another word you need to know is high card. This is a term used to break ties when none of the other hands qualify as a pair, three of a kind, or a flush.