Poker is a card game in which players try to make the best five-card hand they can. It has a number of different variations, but all share some basic rules. The goal of the game is to use the cards you’re dealt to build a winning hand and convince other players that you have the best hand.

To start playing, you’ll need to ante up, which means placing chips into the pot that your opponents must match or raise. You can also call, which means raising the amount of your opponent’s bet by a certain percentage. Some poker games, such as Pot Limit, require you to follow a specific maximum bet rule based on the size of the current pot.

Once all the players have their hole cards there is a betting round. This usually starts with two mandatory bets called blinds placed in the pot by the player to the left of the dealer. Once the first round is over, the dealer deals a third card face-up on the board that everyone can use, which is called the flop.

After the flop there is another betting round and then the fourth card, called the river, is dealt. After the river there is a final betting round and then the player with the best hand wins the pot. If there is a tie between players, the pot is shared. To improve your game, practice and watch experienced players. This will help you develop quick instincts and become more successful.