Poker is one of the most popular card games in the world. It’s fun, social and has a good amount of strategy involved to keep it interesting over time. It’s also easy to get started and can be played for both money or just for fun. However, there are a few things to keep in mind before you start playing.

Before cards are dealt, each player must place a sum of money into the pot. This is known as the ante, blind or bring-in. A player may also raise a bet, adding more to the total. When it’s your turn, say “call” if you want to call the previous person’s bet and add more chips or cash into the pot. Say “raise” if you want to increase the size of your bet and force weaker hands out.

Then, after the flop is dealt, you have to use your two cards and the five community cards to make a winning hand. The cards are dealt in three stages, with the first being the flop, then an additional card called the turn, and finally the river.

The better your hand, the more money you will win. But don’t get discouraged if you lose from time to time. Even the best players experience short term bad luck from time to time. Rather, focus on long term success by studying the game. But be sure to study ONE concept at a time, such as betting ranges (the smaller the bet sizing, the tighter you should play) and stack sizes (when short stacked, prioritize high card strength). The more you can hone these skills, the more consistent you will be.