Poker is a card game that involves betting and the ability to read your opponents. It also requires a cool head when making big bluffs. This is why many people enjoy the game so much. The game can be hard to master for beginners, but with the right guidance it can become easier.

Depending on the rules of the game, one or more players must place an initial amount of money into the pot before the cards are dealt. These are called forced bets and come in the form of antes, blinds, or bring-ins. In addition, some games require players to raise their bets in turn as the hand progresses.

When the betting is your turn, say “I call” if you want to raise the previous player’s bet. You must then place the same amount of chips into the pot as the person who raised it. You can also check, which means you will stay in the hand without raising your bet. However, if you raise your bet, you will forfeit your rights to the original pot and may join other side pots.

The best hands are a full house (three matching cards of the same rank) and a flush (five consecutive cards of the same suit). A straight is five cards of the same rank, but they don’t have to be in sequence. A pair is two cards of the same rank plus another unmatched card. A high card is the lowest ranking hand and doesn’t win anything.