Poker is a card game for two or more players. It requires that one or more players make forced bets – typically an ante and a blind bet – before they are dealt cards. These bets go into a central pot and the player with the highest hand wins. There are multiple betting rounds, and each round usually involves the dealing of additional cards.
After the first betting round is complete the dealer deals three more cards face up on the table that everyone can use (this is called the flop). This is another chance for players to raise or fold. If you have a strong hand such as pocket kings you want to avoid letting the ace on the flop spell disaster for your hand.
If you have a weaker hand then it is generally worth raising to price the worse hands out of the pot. You should not limp unless you have a good reason to do so – this is often seen as a sign of weakness by your opponents.
It is important to practice and observe experienced players to develop quick instincts for the game. Observe how players bet and how they react to help you read the game better. A conservative player is easy to spot – they will rarely raise their bet and can often be bluffed into folding by more aggressive players. An aggressive player will bet high early in a hand and may be difficult to read as they can sometimes be unpredictable.