Poker is a card game played with chips. Each player buys in for a fixed amount. The smallest chip is worth one white chip, the next is worth two whites and so on. There are also black and red chips, which have different values.

The first round of betting begins when all players have received their 2 hole cards. This is initiated by 2 mandatory bets (called blinds) placed into the pot by the players to the left of the dealer.

A player can fold if they don’t wish to play their hand. They can also “call” to put up the same amount as the previous player and go to the next betting round. Or they can “raise” and add more money to the pot.

There are a few basic types of poker hands: a pair, 3 of a kind, 4 of a kind, and a flush. A pair is 2 matching cards of the same rank. 3 of a kind is 3 cards of the same rank, and 4 of a kind is four cards of the same rank (which can be consecutive or not) but from different suits. A flush is five consecutive cards of the same suit.

A good poker player is aware that the strength of their hand is largely determined by its situation. Even a great poker hand like pocket kings can lose on the flop if another player is holding an Ace. This is why it’s important to understand what your opponents are doing.