Poker is a card game played by a group of people sitting around a table. Each player has chips that they can use to place bets on each hand. The goal is to have the highest ranked hand when all betting is finished. The winner of each hand wins all of the chips that were placed into the pot during that hand. The game can have hundreds of variations, but the basic rules are the same for all of them.
Depending on the rules of your game, one or more players may be required to put an initial amount into the pot before the cards are dealt. These are called forced bets, and they come in the form of antes or blinds.
Once all players have 2 cards in their hands, a round of betting begins. The first player to the left of the dealer puts in a mandatory bet called the Blinds. These bets are meant to create an incentive for players to play.
After the flop is dealt, another round of betting takes place. Each player has 7 cards total to build a winning hand: the two personal cards in their hands and the five community cards on the table.
To win a hand, you must either have the best cards or scare your opponents into folding with your bluffing skills. The latter is especially important when playing against weaker players. However, sometimes even the worst hand can win if you have enough courage and tenacity to continue betting.