Poker is a card game that involves betting between two or more players. The player with the best five-card hand wins the pot, which is all of the bets made during the round. The cards are dealt in stages – three face up, known as the flop, then an additional single card, aka the turn, and finally a final card, aka the river.

Before the cards are dealt, one or more players must make an initial investment into the pot, called an ante or blind bet. The dealer then shuffles the cards, deals them out to each player, beginning with the player on their left, and collects all of the bets into the central pot.

While learning the rules of poker is a must, the real skill comes from developing quick instincts and observing other players’ actions. Every player has a tell, an unconscious habit that gives away information about their hand. These tells can include eye movements, idiosyncrasies, hand gestures and betting behavior.

Keeping track of these tells can help you identify conservative players, who tend to fold early in their hands, and aggressive players who are risk-takers and often raise their bets before checking their cards. In the long run, this skill can make you a profitable player. However, luck still determines the outcome of any individual hand or tournament.