Poker is a game of chance, but the game also involves some skill and psychology. The basic rules of the game are described below, but for more information on strategy read a book or play with a group of people who know how to play.
Once everyone has their 2 cards, there is a round of betting, which begins with the player to the left of the dealer. The player who has the highest ranked hand at the end of this round wins the pot, which is all of the money that was bet during that hand.
During the betting phase, each player reveals his or her hand. A hand can be made up of either a pair, 3 of a kind, straight, or flush. A pair consists of two cards of the same rank, 3 of a kind consist of 3 cards of the same rank, and a straight is 5 consecutive cards from one suit.
Beginners often overplay weak hands preflop. It’s best to play only good hands preflop and fold those with low odds of winning once the flop is dealt. For example, a hand like A4o should be folded because it has a low kicker and another player can easily beat it with an AK or AJ.