Poker is a card game played by two or more players. Players use their own two cards along with the five community cards to make the best poker hand. The game is divided into several betting intervals, with the winning player declared after the last betting round.

In poker, a player must either call a bet by putting chips into the pot (known as calling) or raise it by putting in more chips than the previous player (known as raising). A player may also “drop” their hand, which means they put no chips in the pot and abandon their hand. In this situation, no one else can continue their betting.

The first step to becoming a good poker player is to understand the rules. Once you have a basic understanding, it is important to learn how to read the board and be aware of the strength of your own hand. It is also important to practice and watch other people play in order to develop quick instincts.

When you are starting out, it is a good idea to play with money that you are willing to lose. This will keep you from getting frustrated or making bad decisions when you are losing. In addition, it is a good idea to track your wins and losses, especially when you begin getting more serious about the game. This will allow you to see the long-term profitability of your strategy and whether or not it is working for you.