Poker is a game of chance, but it also requires a lot of skill. There are many different rules to the game, but one of the most important is determining how strong your opponent’s hand is. In order to do this, you must study their body language and look for tells. If you can pick up on these, you will be able to make better decisions about whether or not to call their bets.

Each player begins the game by putting money into the pot (amount varies by game, but is usually a small amount such as a nickel). This is called “anteing”. Players then receive 2 cards face-down (hidden from other players) which they use to build a poker hand. Once the cards are dealt, there is a round of betting that starts with the player to the left of the big blind. After the betting phase, 3 more cards are revealed at the center of the table. These are called the flop and are community cards that all players can use to build their hands.

After the flop, another round of betting takes place and if someone has a high hand, they win the pot. If no one has a high hand, the highest card breaks the tie. If the high card is an ace, it is known as a royal flush. If the high card is a pair, it is known as a straight. If the high card is a three of a kind, it is known as a three-of-a-kind.