Poker is a card game in which players compete to form the best possible hand based on the rules of the particular variant being played. This can be done either by forming the best five-card hand or by winning the pot, which is the total sum of all the chips placed in the bets made during a round.

Each player has two cards dealt (sometimes referred to as their “hand”) and the community cards, and must make a five-card “pot” using these cards to win the game. There are also forced bets placed by the players in the game, known as the antes, blinds, and bring-ins, which can increase the competition and the stakes.

There are many different variants of poker, and it’s important to understand how each one works before playing for real money. It is also important to know the basic card rankings, which are: a full house consists of three matching cards of one rank and two matching cards of another, a flush consists of 5 consecutive cards of the same suit, a straight consists of 5 consecutive ranks but from different suits, and a pair consists of two cards of the same rank, plus three unmatched side cards.

The best way to improve at poker is to play frequently and learn from your mistakes. It’s also a good idea to study the games of top players online or at tournaments, and try to emulate their strategy. This can be difficult, but it’s definitely worth it to become a better player.