Poker is a card game where players place chips in the pot (representing money) to make an initial bet. They can then either raise or call existing bets, fold their hand and not participate further in the current betting round, or ‘showdown’ by revealing their cards. The player with the strongest hand wins the pot. Players can also win the pot by showing a pair, a straight, a flush, or a full house.
The game has a high skill element because you need to read your opponents. This isn’t necessarily about subtle physical poker tells (although those can be useful) but rather noticing patterns in their betting. For example if one player rarely calls bets then they probably have a weak hand and are easily bluffed by other players. On the other hand, if they raise every bet then their hands are likely very strong and they can be a good target for bluffing.
A high understanding of the basic rules is important to begin with. Once you have mastered the basics, it is recommended to focus on a single poker variant and master that before trying out new games or strategies. It can be very hard to make money if you overstretch yourself and try to learn too many different styles of poker at once. Also, it is best to start with a low stakes game and work your way up to the higher levels. This will help you develop your game faster and avoid making expensive mistakes.