Poker is a card game in which players place chips (representing money) into a pot, which is then shared by everyone at the table who has a winning poker hand. There are hundreds of poker variants but most have the same basic rules.

Each player is dealt two cards face down. A round of betting begins, starting with the player to the left of the dealer. Each player must place enough chips into the pot to match the total contribution made by the player before him. These mandatory bets are called blinds and provide an incentive for people to play.

After the initial betting round a third card is dealt face up on the table. This card is called the flop and anyone can use it to make a poker hand. Another betting round then takes place, with the player to the left of the dealer acting first.

If your hand is weak, it is often best to fold. However, if you have a strong poker hand, it’s usually better to raise. This will price out other weak hands and force them to call your bet.

It’s also important to understand the concept of position in poker. Playing from late positions allows you to manipulate the pot on later betting streets. This is one of the keys to success in poker. Early positions are more vulnerable to aggression from opponents, so you should generally avoid raising your weak hands in these spots.