Basic Rules of Poker

Poker is a card game of chance and skill that involves betting between players and the sharing of cards. The game is played in many different ways around the world. Despite the wide variety of game variations, there are some basic rules that are common to all games. These include: a showdown and the creation of a best five-card hand.

Before the cards are dealt each player must place an ante in the pot. The player to the left of the button (the position where the action begins each round) must put in a small amount of chips and the player to their right must post a big blind. These bets help give players something to chase and make the game fun for everyone.

During the betting intervals (rounds) each player must decide whether to call, raise or drop their hands. When it is your turn to bet you must say “call” if you want to put the same amount in as the person before you or raise if you wish to add more to the pot. Alternatively, you can also drop your hand, which means you are folding and will not be part of the next betting round.

It is important to use your bluffing skills as much as possible and to know when to fold a weak hand. Even a pocket king on the flop can get crushed by a flush or straight card. Similarly, you should not keep betting on strong hands once the flop is revealed – this will only lead to your downfall.