A game of chance and psychology, poker is a great way to pass the time with friends. It’s also a great way to make money, but only if you know how to play. This article will help you get started by introducing you to the basics of poker. We’ll walk you through the rules, hand rankings and popular strategies. By the end, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a poker ace!

The game starts with everyone placing their ante (the first amount of chips put into the pot). Then the dealer deals each player two cards face down. When the betting round begins, a player may call a bet by putting in the same number of chips as the person to their left or raise that bet by putting in more than the original bet. They can also fold by discarding their cards and removing themselves from the betting round.

After the betting is complete, the players reveal their hands and the player with the best hand wins the pot. Ties are broken using the highest card in each hand.

While it’s important to understand the basic rules of poker, it’s also helpful to study some of the more obscure variations of the game. Learning the rules of these games can give you a leg up on the competition, especially when it comes to reading other players. Reading other players is a crucial skill in poker that requires you to look beyond your own cards and think about what your opponent could have.