Poker is a card game that has many different variants but all share the same basic rules. The aim is to use the cards you are dealt to make a high-ranking poker hand. The higher the hand, the more likely you are to win. Players bet that they have a good hand and other players must either call the bet or fold their cards. You can also try to win by bluffing, betting that you have a strong hand when you don’t.
The dealer is responsible for taking the bets and managing the chips in the pot (the amount of money that players contribute to the pot by calling a bet). This is usually done with a small plastic chip that has a number on it (called a button) which moves clockwise after each deal. This is to indicate the player who has the first opportunity to make a bet.
After the first betting round the dealer puts three cards face up on the table that anyone can use. This is called the flop. Players get another chance to check, raise or fold.
Pocket kings or queens are strong hands but if an ace comes on the flop you should be wary of continuing to play your hand. This is because you now have less than a 1 in 5 chance of getting a better hand. To avoid this you need to take a good look at the board before deciding whether to continue.
