In poker you play for a pot of money (amounts vary) and the highest hand wins. Each player is required to put in a small amount of money (the ante) before being dealt cards. This creates a pot and encourages competition.

Once the ante has been placed players can bet into the pot, either by calling or raising a previous player’s raise. Players cannot bet more than the total amount in the pot and this is known as a ‘pot limit’ game.

The dealer will then deal the players their cards, typically clockwise. If a player has a strong hand they can continue to bet, and the other players will fold or call. If a player has a weak hand they should fold early to prevent losing too much money.

After the betting has finished, the dealer will reveal the remaining cards on the table that everyone can use to make a hand. The highest ranked hand wins the pot, which is all the chips that have been bet during the round.

The best way to learn how to play poker is to practice and play with friends who know how to play. You will make mistakes, but don’t let them discourage you – there is a lot of skill involved and the more you play the better you will get. It is also important to read the other players, not just their subtle physical poker tells, but understand their betting patterns – this will help you improve your own poker game.