Poker is a card game played by 2 or more players with the goal of forming the highest ranking poker hand to win the pot (all bets made during a single deal). There are many forms of the game and the rules differ slightly, but the principles of the game are similar.
Each player starts with 2 hole cards and there is an initial round of betting that is based on the mandatory bets (called blinds) placed into the pot by the players to their left. After this round of betting, a single card is dealt face up and there is another round of betting (this time based on the implied odds).
You can “raise” when it is your turn to act by adding more money to the betting pool if you think you have a better hand than your opponent. This is usually done when you have a strong preflop hand that can profit from the board, for example suited connectors or a high-odds flop like two pair. You can also choose to fold if you don’t have a good hand or your opponents are raising a lot.
To be a good poker player, you must be able to read your opponents by studying their body language and facial expressions. This is called reading tells, and is an important part of the game. In addition, you must learn how to manage your bankroll and understand the role of variance in your losses.