Poker is a card game that relies on a lot of luck. However, it also requires a lot of skill. The more you play, the better you’ll get. This article is a basic primer into the rules of the game, but for more information, it is best to read a book or play with a group of people who know how to play.

Players begin by betting 2 mandatory bets called blinds into the pot. Once the bets have been made, each player is dealt 2 cards face down. These are called the player’s hole cards and are hidden from other players.

After the flop is revealed, there’s another round of betting. Then one more card is dealt face up on the turn. Again, there is a final round of betting. The player with the highest hand wins the pot.

A key part of the game is reading your opponents. This involves observing their body language, facial expressions, gestures and breathing. It’s important to understand how to spot these tells, because they can give you a huge advantage over your competition. The more you practice, the better you’ll become at reading your opponents. Another key aspect of the game is calculating your outs. This is a way to determine how strong your opponent’s hand is by looking at the number of cards that can improve your own. This can help you decide whether it’s worth calling a draw or not.