Poker is a card game in which players make a hand of five cards by combining their own two hole cards with the 5 community cards on the board. The best hand wins the pot.
You have to understand your opponents in poker and learn to put them on a range. There are many factors that can help you determine this, including how long they take to make a decision, the sizing of their raises and whether they’re short stacked (when they’re short stacked you should play fewer speculative hands and prioritize high card strength).
To start playing poker you need to have a decent bankroll. Ideally you’ll want to start at the lowest stakes and work your way up. This allows you to get a feel for the game without spending too much money and also lets you practice versus players who are weaker than you.
The first betting round begins when a player puts in a bet of one or more chips. Each player in turn must either call that bet or raise it. A player who doesn’t raise or call a bet must fold his or her hand and is out of the hand.