Poker is a card game in which players make bets to compete for a prize called the pot. The rules vary between games, but they typically include betting rounds and a showdown. The highest-ranking hand wins the pot. There are many variants of poker, but Texas Hold’em is one of the most popular.

Two cards, known as hole cards, are dealt to each player. There is a round of betting after this. Then, five community cards are dealt in stages: three cards, referred to as the flop; an additional card, called the turn; and finally another single card, the river.

During this stage of the game, players can use the community cards to make higher-ranking hands. The highest hand is a royal flush. A straight is 5 consecutive cards of the same rank. A three-of-a-kind is 3 matching cards of the same rank. A pair is 2 cards of the same rank plus 1 unmatched card.

When you play poker, be sure to shuffle the cards before each round. This helps ensure that the cards are evenly mixed and makes it more difficult for other players to read your strategy. Observe experienced players and think about how you would react in their shoes to develop your instincts. Also, keep track of your own tells—the unconscious habits that give away information about your hand. These can be as subtle as a change in posture or as obvious as a gesture.