Poker is a card game with a lot of risk and chance. There are a number of different variations, but the basics are always the same. Players put in chips and then are dealt cards that they keep hidden from their opponents. There are a number of betting rounds and then the player with the best poker hand wins.

The first betting round is called the flop and it reveals three of the community cards. Then there is a second betting round and then a third. Finally, the fourth and final betting round reveals the fifth and final community card which is known as the river.

There are a variety of different poker hands and the highest is a royal flush (A, K, Q, J, 10 all of the same suit). Other popular hands include four of a kind (3 cards of the same number/picture) and two pairs (2 different matching cards).

If you want to be successful at poker you need a wide range of tactics in your arsenal. If you see a rival trying to get a read on your strategy you need to have a plan B, C, D and E to send him packing.

It is important to practice and watch other players to develop quick instincts. Observe their eye movements, idiosyncrasies, hand gestures and betting behavior. Eventually you will learn their tells and be able to spot when they are holding a good or bad poker hand.