The game of poker is mostly a game of chance, but it also involves skill and psychology. There are many variations of the game, but all involve betting and a showdown where the best five cards win. The first step in learning to play is familiarizing yourself with the rules. Fortunately, there are some basic rules that most games follow. First, you must place a forced bet before the hand begins (called the blind or ante). Players then receive two cards called hole cards that they keep hidden from opponents. Once the initial betting round is complete a third card is dealt on the table, called the flop. Players can now bet again, and raise each other if they wish to.

After the flop is the turn, which is the final chance to bet before showing the cards. A pair of cards is considered the best hand and it beats all other hands. A high card breaks ties, and a straight is one or more consecutive cards in order (like 5-6-7-8-9). A flush is four of the same suit and is considered the highest natural hand.

It’s important to leave your ego at the door when playing poker. You’ll need to be better than half the players at a table to have a positive win rate. When you start out, you should play at the lowest stakes so that you can practice against weak players and learn how to play the game.