Poker is a card game that involves betting and constructing the best possible five-card hand. It has many variants and rules, but all share a common core. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, understanding the basic principles of poker will help you maximize your chances of success.

When the cards are dealt, players take turns in clockwise order to make an action. They can choose to “call” or raise their stakes by increasing the amount of money in the pot (known as the ’pot size’). They can also fold, which means they give up their cards without further betting.

The stronger your poker hand, the higher its value. There are several different poker hands, ranging from pocket pairs to suited connectors. Each has a different ranking and the strongest hands beat the weaker ones.

Poker is a game of luck and chance, but it’s also about reading the other players in the room and making changes to your strategy based on what you see. A good poker player will know when to raise and call, and will recognize the optimal moment to fold.

After the flop, an additional community card is revealed. This is known as the turn, and it triggers the third round of betting. At this point, it’s important to understand the different types of poker bets and their effect on your own chip stack. For example, if you’re in late position and the person to your right raises, you may want to raise your own bet to stay competitive with theirs.