Depending on the rules of the game, players put up some money into the pot before cards are dealt. These are called antes, blinds or bring-ins. When the cards are dealt, each player has two starting, or hole, cards. After the first player in turn has acted, the rest of the players can choose to call the bet, raise the bet, or fold their cards.
Then, the dealer deals each player a second card. The player to the left of the button takes their turn and can either call the current bet (by putting chips into the pot equal to or more than the amount raised), raise the bet, or push their cards to the dealer face down without putting any chips in (fold).
Each action you make, even the way you say it, tells your opponents bits of information about your hand. They use this to build a story about you and your chances of winning the hand.
Learn how to read the table and study other players to develop your instincts. Also, be sure to set a bankroll – both for each session and over the long term – so that you can keep your play in check and resist the temptation to chase losses with foolish bets. When the game is over, the player with the best five-card poker hand wins the pot. The remaining players share the pot evenly. In the event of a tie, the dealer wins.