Poker is a card game played between two or more players and involves betting over a series of rounds with the winner being declared in a showdown. There are many variations of the game but the basic principle remains the same – the player with the best five card hand wins the pot.

The game is usually played with poker chips, the lowest valued unit being worth one white chip. Higher value chips include black, blue and red chips. The game is generally played with a fixed number of chips and each player buys in for the same amount. The dealer is in charge of distributing the chips to the players at the table.

Once each player has purchased their chips the dealer deals out five cards to all players in clockwise order. This is known as the ante and each player can either call, raise or fold their hand. If they raise their bet the player to their left must call or else pass.

After the antes have been called the dealer deals three more cards on to the board which are known as community cards and anyone can use them. A second round of betting then takes place.

In general, good players look beyond their own cards and consider what other players might have. This allows them to make moves based on what they think an opponent might do and can be very profitable. Players who are conservative in their betting are easily bluffed by aggressive players.

Position is also important. Those who are in late position act last after the flop has been dealt, giving them a better chance to see what the other players have and decide what to do. Players who are in early position have less information and should be more careful with their bets.

The main aim of poker is to get as close to a royal flush as possible. A royal flush consists of all the highest cards in your hand and includes an Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10 of the same suit. Other high ranking hands in poker include four of a kind, straight and three of a kind.

The basic rules of poker are very simple, but there are some subtleties that can make a big difference in your winnings. You need to understand the different types of hands and how they are made. If you’re new to the game, it’s a good idea to read up on the different types of poker and try some practice games online. There are even online poker sites where you can play for free. This will give you a feel for the game before you start playing for real money.