Poker is a card game where players bet on their hands. A player starts with two cards and then there are five community cards. The aim is to make the best 5 card hand from the combination of the two cards in your own hand and the community cards. If you bet and your opponents fold then you can win the pot (all the chips bet so far).
Depending on the rules of the game, one or more players are required to place an initial amount into the betting pool before the cards are dealt. These are known as forced bets and come in the form of ante, blind and bring-ins.
Once the game begins, there are several rounds of betting and a showdown at the end. The main pot is the sum of all money paid into the betting pool until a showdown occurs and side pots may also exist. A player cannot win more than the total of his stake in the main pot or any side pots.
The key to winning poker is avoiding being predictable. If your opponents know what you have then they can exploit you by calling your bluffs or making strong raises when you don’t have the best hand. Mix up your style and keep your opponents guessing. The other key is to manage your bankroll – both for each session and over the long term. If you don’t set a budget then it is easy to go on tilt and lose big!