Poker is a card game of chance, but it also relies heavily on skill. You can improve your chances of getting a good hand by learning to read other players’ tells and making bets that are profitable. You can also get better at the game by practicing and tracking your wins and losses.

The first thing you need to learn about poker is the rules of the game. These include basic social etiquette, such as being respectful of fellow players and dealers and not making noise while you play. You also need to understand the different types of poker hands and how they are ranked.

Once all players have received their 2 hole cards a round of betting begins, starting with the player on the left of the dealer. This is called the flop. After this another card is dealt face up on the table, which is called the turn. The next round of betting is again begun by the player on the left of the dealer.

After the flop and turn rounds of betting one final community card is revealed, which is called the river. The final betting round then takes place. The player with the highest poker hand wins the pot. A good poker hand is made up of 5 matching cards of the same rank. There are also other combinations of poker hands: a full house is 3 of a kind and 2 pairs, straights contain 5 consecutive cards of the same suit, and flushes have all 5 matching cards from the same suit.