The game of poker is played between 2 or more players and involves betting in the form of mandatory bets called blinds placed into a pot before each round. The player with the highest ranked hand wins the pot which is all the money bet during the round.
In the early rounds of the game, it is best to play tight and conservative until you get a feel for the table and your opponents. Study the way they play and their habits, and try to predict what type of hands they will play with. If you can figure out their patterns, you will have a better chance of winning.
Once all the players have their two hole cards, there is a round of betting, starting with the player to the left of the dealer. Players then start flipping their cards one at a time, trying to beat the card in the middle (called the kill card) or make a high pair, a flush, a straight, or any other type of strong hand.
You can call a bet, raise a bet, or fold. The player who calls a bet must then either raise his or her own bet, or leave the game and give up all the money that he or she bet that round. Players can also read the tells of other players, which are not only physical signs like fidgeting with their chips, but include the manner in which a player plays the game.