Poker is a card game that involves betting and quite a bit of skill. It also has an element of psychology. It is a game that can be very enjoyable and profitable to play.
Once the dealer deals everyone their cards the first round of betting begins. The player to the left of the active player starts by revealing their cards one at a time. Their goal is to beat the high card in the middle (such as an 8, 9, 10) with their hand.
If they can, they continue to reveal their cards until they have a high enough hand to win the pot. Then they stop revealing cards and the next player takes their turn to bet.
The dealer then puts three more cards face up on the board that everybody can use, called the flop. Once the betting is over on the flop the player to the left of the active player starts flipping their cards again. They are trying to make a pair, a flush, or a straight with their cards and the exposed portion of the cards that were played before them.
One of the most important things to learn in poker is how to read your opponents. This is not just about subtle physical tells such as scratching your nose or playing nervously with your chips but instead looking at patterns. For example, if someone raises re-raises all the time you can probably assume they are only making strong hands and that their bluffs will be costly to anyone who calls them.