The game of poker has many variants, but all share a core set of rules. The basic objective is to use the cards you are dealt to create a winning five-card hand or convince other players that you have a superior hand. The game is played over a series of betting rounds, with the player who places the most chips into the pot winning a showdown.

Before the cards are dealt, one or more players must make forced bets, called the ante and the blind. The dealer then shuffles the cards and deals them out to the players, beginning with the person to his or her immediate left. The players may bet and raise during each round, depending on the variant of poker being played.

After the first round of betting, the dealer will reveal two more cards. This is known as the flop. After another round of betting, players will have seven cards total to use in their hands – the two cards they were originally dealt and the five community cards on the board.

The best hands are usually combinations of cards that are easy to identify by other players, such as straights and full houses. However, players can also win by bluffing, by betting that they have a superior hand when they do not. Players can also choose to drop their hand and not compete for the pot. Observe other experienced players to build your instincts about how they behave in particular situations.