Poker is a card game that can be played by two or more players. Each player places a bet before the cards are dealt, which is called buying in. Typically, each player will have a limit for how much they will bet in any given hand. No player can bet more than their limit, even if they have the best hand.

After the bets are placed, the dealer shuffles the cards and deals them to each player one at a time, starting with the person on their left. Then, there is a series of betting intervals, after which the players reveal their cards and the winning hands are declared.

Usually, the highest ranking hand wins the pot. This includes a straight, a full house, or three of a kind. A straight consists of five consecutive cards of the same rank, such as ten, nine, eight, seven, and four. A full house consists of three cards of the same rank, and a pair is made up of two matching cards of different ranks.

To be a good Poker player, you must learn to read the opponents’ betting patterns and adjust your own accordingly. Observing more experienced players and analyzing how they react to particular situations can also be helpful. However, reading about poker theory will not improve your game unless you play the game often and practice your new techniques. This will allow you to develop quick instincts and improve your performance.