Poker is a card game played by two or more people. There are many different forms of poker, but most involve betting and a showdown to determine the winner. The objective of the game is to win the pot, which is the sum of all bets made in a single deal. The pot can be won by having the highest-ranking poker hand or by making a bet that no other player calls.
Depending on the rules of the poker variant being played, one or more players must place an initial amount into the pot before the cards are dealt. These are called forced bets, and they come in three forms: antes, blinds, and bring-ins.
After each player has acted in the first round of betting, the dealer deals three more cards face up on the table. These are known as community cards and can be used by all players still in the hand. A second round of betting now takes place.
It is important to understand how to read poker hands in order to be able to make good decisions at the tables. Beginner players often think about each hand in terms of its individual strength, but a pro will consider the ranges that their opponent is likely to have and play accordingly. This is a more efficient approach and will help you to improve faster. The best way to learn this is through practice. Try to play as much poker as possible and you will begin to develop a feel for these concepts.