Poker is a card game that involves betting between two or more players. The best five-card hand wins the pot. The cards are dealt face up in the center of the table and shared by all players. Each player then combines their private hand with the community cards to form the strongest possible hand. There are three betting rounds: the flop, the turn, and the river.

Each round of betting begins when a player to the left of you bets. Then the other players must call that bet, put in at least as many chips as that person did, or fold. If they fold they leave the game and forfeit any chips they had already contributed to the pot.

The game can be difficult for beginners. There will be times when they will make bad decisions and lose big hands. But this is just part of the learning process. They will eventually improve as they continue to play and study the game. The key is to start small and work their way up the stakes. This method will help them build their bankroll and avoid losing a lot of money in the beginning.

One important aspect of the game is understanding how to read your opponents. This can be done through subtle physical tells or by observing patterns in the way they play. For example, if someone raises their bet often that is usually a sign of strength while folding a lot means they have weaker hands.