Poker is a card game in which you bet against other players. It’s a game of chance, but it also requires a bit of skill and psychology. Here are some basic rules to help you get started:

You can play poker with as few as two people, or as many as 10. In most cases, each player buys in for a fixed amount of money, usually with chips. There are many different poker games, but the core is the same: you’re dealt five cards and then bet over a series of rounds until there is a showdown.

As you start playing, it’s important to understand how hands are ranked. This is especially true for beginners; a simple chart can help you know what beats what. For instance, three of a kind beats two pair (two cards of one rank and two unrelated cards) and straight beats flush. You should also be aware of the rake, which is a percentage of each pot that’s taken by the card rooms and poker sites.

Once you’ve got the basics down, you can move on to more advanced strategies like bluffing and raising bets. It’s important to keep in mind, however, that poker is a social game and you should be respectful of the other players at your table. Taking your frustrations out on other players can only lead to bad feelings all around, and that’s not good for the game. So remember to stay calm and be nice, even if you’re losing big.