Poker is a game of skill and knowledge that takes place over multiple rounds. Players start with two of their own cards and use them with five community cards to make the best possible poker hand. A good poker player will be able to assess what their opponent has and put pressure on them even if they don’t have a great hand themselves.
The first thing to learn is the basic rules. Then it’s important to study a few charts to know what hands beat what (e.g. a flush beats a straight, three of a kind beats two pair etc). This will help you when making decisions during the betting round.
After the first betting round is complete the dealer deals three additional cards face up on the table that anyone can use (these are called the flop). Another betting round takes place and then in the final round (the river) the dealer puts the fifth and final community card on the board. Another betting round happens and the player with the highest ranked poker hand wins the pot.
The best way to get better at poker is to play a lot of hands. This will give you the experience you need to see how other players play and exploit their mistakes. You should also pay attention to your opponents and try to read them. This can be done through subtle physical poker tells (like scratching your nose) or by looking at their betting patterns.