Poker is a card game that can be played with 2, 3, or 4 players. Each player “buys in” for a certain number of chips. Typically, a white chip is worth the minimum ante or bet; a red chip is worth five whites; and a blue chip is worth 10 whites.

The first betting round starts after all the players have received two hole cards. The round is triggered by mandatory bets called blinds placed into the pot by the 2 players to the left of the dealer.

A third card is dealt face up. This is called the flop. There is another betting round. This round is a great time to bluff if you think the other players are expecting your hand. For example, if all the cards are spades and the board shows a 5, most players will assume you have three of a kind.

After the flop is revealed, a fourth card is dealt. This is known as the turn. A final betting round takes place before the fifth and last card is revealed face up – the river.

The player with the best 5 card poker hand wins the pot with all the bets made at each of the previous betting stages. Good players learn to play a wide range of hands but also focus on their position. Being in late position gives you a greater chance to make a profit by raising with weak or marginal hands.