Poker is a game of strategy and luck, and it’s also a social experience. If you’re just getting started, finding a regular home game with experienced players is a great way to learn the ropes in a casual, friendly environment. You’ll get hands-on practice without having to risk any real money – you can play for something like matchsticks or counters, if that suits you.

At the start of each hand, one or more players make forced bets, usually an ante and a blind bet (although this isn’t always the case with online games). The dealer shuffles the cards, then deals everyone four cards each, either face-up or face-down depending on the variant being played. Each player then uses their own two personal cards plus three of the community cards to create a five-card poker hand.

Once everyone has their cards, they bet again. Those with the best possible poker hands win the pot, and anyone who doesn’t have a winning hand can call if they wish.

To improve your poker game, you must think beyond your own cards and consider what other people might have. This allows you to make decisions that maximise your bluffing potential and exploit the mistakes of other players. For example, if someone has three of a kind on the flop, you can often assume they’re going to raise when you call, as this gives them an easy bluff to make. This is called position, and it’s a huge factor in making good poker decisions.