Poker is a card game in which players compete to form the best possible hand of five cards. The highest hand wins the pot (cash, poker chips or other units). Although it has become popular to think of poker as a game of pure chance, the truth is that there is a significant amount of skill involved. Players make decisions about when and how to bet, as well as how much to bet. In addition, poker is a social game where players can influence the other players’ behavior by virtue of their own decisions and how they react to other people’s actions.

There are many different poker variants, but they all share the same basic structure: each player is dealt two cards and then bets over a series of rounds. The pot winner is the last person remaining in the hand at showdown, or the person who has the highest ranking hand.

After everyone has their two cards, the dealer deals a further three cards to the table. These are known as the community cards and they can be used by all players. The first player to act then decides whether they want to call, raise or fold.

If they call, they must match the previous bet in order to remain in the hand. If they raise, the other players can choose to call or fold. Players can also pass if they don’t have a good enough hand to continue.

Once the betting has been completed, another card is dealt face up. This is called the flop and it can change the shape of the hand. For example, it may make a pair or a straight. It can also change the suit, bringing in more opportunities for players to make a winning hand.

The final step is to look at the remaining cards and decide how to play them. The most common way to do this is by comparing them to the winning hand. There are a few rules to remember when comparing hands, but the most important thing is not to over-think it. If you don’t have a good hand, it is usually better to fold than to bet a large amount in the hope that your luck will turn. This is especially true if you are facing a strong opponent with a good position. It is also a good idea to learn how to read other players’ betting patterns. Conservative players tend to fold early and can be bluffed into folding, while aggressive players will often risk more money in the hopes that they can get a good hand.