Poker is a card game played by two or more players and involves betting. It can be a lot of fun to play and there are many different types of poker games. Some are played with an ante or blinds, while others are played without them. The game is a combination of chance, psychology and game theory. It is important to know your cards, the other players’ hands and betting strategies before playing.

When you’re new to poker, it’s best to start with a conservative strategy and learn the game by watching experienced players. This will allow you to understand player tendencies and build a strong foundation for your strategy. As you gain experience, you can open your hand range and begin to experiment with concepts like semi-bluffing and 4-bets.

After each player receives 2 cards, a round of betting begins. This betting round is usually triggered by the two mandatory bets called blinds put into the pot by the players to the left of you.

Once the betting round is complete, the dealer deals three more cards face up on the table which are community cards that everyone can use (called the flop). There will be another round of betting after this and you should always bet aggressively when you have a strong hand. This will make weaker hands fold and also raise the value of your pot.

A good poker hand is made up of 4 cards of the same rank or a pair plus 1 other unmatched card. A straight is 5 consecutive cards of the same suit. A full house is 3 matching cards of one rank and 2 matching cards of another rank.