Poker is a card game in which players compete to make the best 5-card hand. The game has many variations, but the basics are similar across all. Players place an initial amount of money into the pot before a betting round begins. These are called forced bets and can take the form of antes, blinds or bring-ins.

Once each player has 2 hole cards, there is a round of betting (depending on the variant) that begins with the person to the left of the button. Then another 3 cards are dealt face up, called the flop. Then there is a final betting round that ends when all players reveal their hands. Depending on the outcome of the flop, players may be able to exchange some or all of their cards.

A full house contains 3 matching cards of one rank and 2 matching cards of another rank. A flush is 5 cards that are consecutive in rank but from different suits. A straight is 5 cards of sequential rank but from the same suit. A pair is two cards of the same rank plus two unmatched cards.

To place additional chips into the pot, you can “call” the bet of the person to your left. You can also raise your own bet. When you say “raise,” it means you want to put in more than the last player’s bet and that you are attempting to increase your chances of winning the pot. If you cannot match the raise, you can either call or fold.