Poker is a card game played by a group of players. The object is to have the best hand possible and win a pot of money. This is achieved by combining your cards with the other players’.

Before the cards are dealt, each player must place an initial amount of money called an “ante.” This ante is set by the table. Once the ante is placed, the dealer will then deal two cards to each player. Then, each player will take a look at their cards and decide whether to bet, fold or call the next betting round.

The betting rounds are made up of several phases: the flop, turn and river. When the flop is dealt, each player can check, bet or fold.

Once the flop is dealt, the dealers will then show each player one more card, known as the “turn.” Then, the dealer will turn over a final card, called the “river.” In some poker games, the river can be changed to another type of card.

If you have only a pair of cards on the turn or river, it’s best to fold your hand. This can be a difficult decision, but it’s necessary if you want to win the pot.

Poker is a social game, meaning that you will constantly have to evaluate the motivations and reasoning of other players. Over time, this will help you develop a sense of what other people are thinking and feeling at the table.