Poker is a game of chance that becomes more about skill when betting is introduced (although, to be honest, there is still quite a bit of luck). It also requires a fair amount of psychological and strategic thinking. It is important to understand the rules of poker before you start playing, as this will help to avoid making mistakes that lead to big pot losses and bad feelings.

Once each player has 2 cards, a round of betting begins. This is prompted by 2 mandatory bets called blinds that are put into the pot by players to the left of the dealer. These create a pot instantly and encourage competition.

Each player may choose to call the bet, raise it, or drop. If they raise, they must put into the pot at least the same amount as the player that raised them before. If they choose to drop, they must leave the table and forfeit any chips that they have already put into the pot.

There are a variety of hands in poker that can be won, including: Straights – five consecutive cards of the same suit; Flush – all five cards in the same suit; Three of a kind – three matching cards of one rank; Two pair – two matching cards of one rank, plus two unmatched cards. The highest hand wins the pot. The game is played with a standard 53-card pack that includes the joker as a wild card.