In poker you play cards against other players in a hand. The highest-ranked hand wins the pot. There are many different poker games and variants but all have the same basic rules. The game is played with a standard 52-card deck with four of each card (1-9, jacks, queens, and aces) in each suit (hearts, spades, diamonds, and clubs). The most important thing to remember about poker is that you’re going to make mistakes. Even the best players sometimes lose big hands and look stupid. This is okay, just keep playing and work on your game.

After everyone has 2 hole cards there is a round of betting that starts with the two players to the left of the dealer. These mandatory bets are called blinds.

The dealer then deals three more community cards face-up on the board. This is called the flop. There is another round of betting and this time every player gets a chance to bet.

A fifth and final community card is then dealt face-up on the board. This is the river and there is one final betting round. This is when the players reveal their cards and the winner is declared.

When you’re starting out it’s recommended that you only gamble with money you can afford to lose. This way you can keep your bankroll healthy and avoid losing too much. You can use a calculator to help you determine the maximum amount of money you can bet before you get too risky.