The game of poker is a card game in which players bet, or place chips (representing money) into the pot, to try and make the best hand. Each player has two cards, which are dealt face down. These are called hole cards. A series of community cards are then dealt in stages, including three known as the flop, one additional card called the turn, and finally another single card called the river. The best hand wins the pot. Players may fold their hand if it is weak, but they cannot call a raise on the same hand.
The player to the left of the button is the first to act. Before any cards are dealt, this player must put in a minimum amount of money to call any bets that have already been made. A player can also choose to raise their own bet at any point during a hand, but they must match the highest bet made by any other active players.
It is important to set a bankroll for your poker games. This will help you avoid running out of money before you are ready to quit. The size of your bankroll depends on the amount of money you want to play with, as well as the stakes you plan to play at. It is recommended that you start out at lower stakes, so you can take your time to learn the game without risking too much of your own money.