Poker is a card game where the aim is to make the best five-card hand. This can be achieved by making other players fold in earlier rounds when you have a good hand, or by putting pressure on an opponent with betting and raising. You need to be a smart player and understand that you can’t control the cards your opponents have, but you can control how much pressure you apply to them and how often you call their bluffs.

Each player starts with a set number of chips. This is usually a small amount of white chips worth whatever the minimum ante or bet is, and a larger number of red chips (or other colored chips) that are each worth 10 or more whites. This is called buying in, and it’s a good idea to buy in at least a few times before you start playing seriously.

After the first round of betting, the dealer deals three additional cards in the middle of the table which are known as community cards and can be used by everyone. Another round of betting takes place as per step two, and once all players have acted it’s time for the third stage of the hand, the turn.

After the turn, an additional card is dealt on the board which is again available to everyone and the final round of betting takes place. Once all bets have been placed the hands are revealed and the player with the highest ranked hand wins the pot.