Poker is a card game played between two or more players. The object of the game is to win a pot, which contains all bets made during one round of play. The player with the highest-ranking hand wins the pot.
There are a variety of poker games, and rules vary slightly between them. However, there are a few basic principles that apply to all of them. The first is that betting takes place in rounds, and each player may raise or call bets at any time. A player may also choose to fold his or her cards and withdraw from the hand, in which case no further bets are made.
When a player has not called any bets yet, the dealer will deal the players 2 hole cards. Then there is a round of betting, usually initiated by 2 mandatory bets placed into the pot by the players to the left of the dealer. Once this betting round is over the dealer will deal a third card face up on the table that anyone can use, this is called the flop.
Once this is dealt there is another round of betting and then a fourth card is dealt face up, this is called the turn. Once this is dealt there is a final betting round and the showdown happens.
In order to be a good poker player you must be able to look beyond your own cards and make moves based on what you think an opponent has. This requires a lot of studying and watching other players.