Poker is a card game where players bet on the strength of their hands. The game requires a fair amount of luck, but the ability to minimize losses with bad hands and maximize winnings with good ones is key to success.

The game begins with each player putting an initial contribution, known as the ante, into the pot before the cards are dealt. The dealer shuffles and cuts the deck, then deals each player two cards face-down (known as hole cards). If a player wants to play their hand, they must place a bet equal to twice the amount of their ante.

After the players have their hole cards, three additional cards are dealt in the center of the table, commonly referred to as the flop. These are called community cards, and all players can use them to make a final five-card hand.

Among the most important skills for new players to develop is the ability to read their opponents. This isn’t just about watching for nervous tells such as fiddling with a ring or chips, but also includes paying attention to things like how often they check when they should be raising, and the timing of their decisions.

There’s nothing worse than underplaying a pair of Kings only to lose to someone who checked before the flop with 8-4 and caught a straight on the turn and river. To avoid this, you must be assertive and force players to pay to see your premium opening hands, like Ace-Kings or Ace-Queens.