A poker game is played between two or more players who each have chips (money to bet with). Each player is dealt two cards and then there are five community cards. The aim is to make the best “hand” using your own two cards and the community cards, and to win the pot (all of the bets placed). There is a lot of psychology involved in this game and you need quick instincts. Watching other players can also be very interesting, as you can pick up on their tells (unconscious habits that reveal information about their cards). For example, a player with a strong hand will probably not show much emotion, and a weak hand will often elicit a smile or a flinch.
There are a number of different ways to win the pot, including making a straight, three of a kind or a full house. If more than one person has a straight, it is called a flush. In a flush, there must be 5 consecutive cards of the same suit (aces, queens, jacks or kings).
It is important to decide how much money to put into the pot. In general, you should bet when you have a strong hand and fold when you don’t. This will force other people to raise their bets and will increase the chances of you winning.