Poker is a card game for two or more players played from a standard deck of 52 cards. There are a number of different variations of poker and the rules vary slightly from one variation to another, but most share some common elements.
The object of the game is to win the pot, which is the sum of all bets made during a hand. You win the pot by having a winning poker hand or by making a bet that no other player calls. In some poker games the number of players is restricted to seven or eight.
During each betting interval (determined by the rules of the particular poker variant being played) one player has the privilege or obligation, depending on the game, to make a bet. Players who call the bet place their chips in the pot equal to the amount of the bet made by the person before them.
Once the first round of betting is complete the dealer puts three cards face up on the table that anyone can use. This is known as the flop. Players then take turns revealing their hands. It is important to study the physical tells of your opponents so that you can pick up on any hints about what they have. Some of the tells include shallow breathing, sighing, flaring nostrils, eyes watering, blinking excessively, a hand over the mouth, or shaking hands.
Practice and watch experienced players to develop quick instincts. It is also important to analyze your own sessions off the table so that you can start to understand how to put the math pieces together.