Poker is a card game that involves betting between players and the aim of winning a pot (the sum total of all bets made in any deal) by having the highest-ranking poker hand. There are many variations of this game, but they all share some basic principles.

Each player is dealt two cards and has the option of calling (putting in the same amount as the previous player) or raising. If a player is unwilling to raise, they must drop out of the hand.

When the first round of betting is complete the dealer deals three more cards face up on the table that anyone can use. This is known as the flop. The next round of betting begins again, starting with the player to the left of the dealer.

As the rounds go by the dealer will continue to reveal more cards on the board, until all players have five cards each. At this point the showdown is ready to begin and whoever has the highest poker hand wins the pot!

It’s important to understand the value of position in poker. Depending on your position you’ll be able to make better bluffs or call higher bets. For example, if you have pocket kings and an ace on the flop you’ll need to be very careful! You’ll also want to keep an eye on the other poker hands around you. A high straight beats a low one and a wraparound straight (starting high and ending low) is even stronger than that.