Poker is a card game in which players compete for an amount of money or chips contributed by all players (the pot). Each player has five cards and makes bets based on their own hand and the prediction of what their opponents may have. The game has many variants, but all share the same basic rules.

To start a hand, each player must place an initial bet, which is called the “ante.” This is usually equal to the amount of the blinds (a forced bet that goes into the pot before dealing the cards). After this, betting is done in order of clockwise position around the table. The player with the highest hand wins the pot.

The most common hands in poker are pairs, three of a kind, straights, and flushes. The best possible five-card hand is a royal flush, which contains all of the same suits. A full house is another good hand to have, consisting of two distinct pairs and one high card. High card is used to break ties when multiple players have the same pairs or better.

It’s important to develop quick instincts in poker. This is easier to do if you play and watch a lot of the game. Observing experienced players can also help you understand the strategy behind their decisions. This can give you an edge at the tables by allowing you to identify their betting patterns and read them more easily.