In poker, players use the cards they are dealt to form the best 5-card hand they can. The highest ranked hand wins the round and all of the money in the betting pool, called the pot.

Before each round begins, one player must put a certain amount of money into the pot – this is called an ante. This money can either replace or be added to the existing blinds, depending on the game rules.

Once all players have their antes and blinds in place, the dealer deals each player 2 cards face down. There is then a round of betting, starting with the player to the left of the dealer. Once the betting has finished the dealer puts 3 additional cards on the table that everyone can use, called the flop. There is another round of betting, this time starting with the player to the right of the dealer.

Some games have additional betting rounds, these are called the turn and river. In these rounds, more cards are revealed which can help players improve their hands.

There is a lot of skill involved in poker, even when you have the worst hand, but you must understand the rules and be aware of the unwritten poker etiquette to be successful. This includes knowing when to bluff and how much to raise your bets. You must also be able to read your opponents and know what kind of hand they have.