In Poker, players have chips (representing money) to place in a betting pot. The object of the game is to win the pot by having a higher-ranking hand than your opponents. Minimizing your losses with bad hands and maximizing your wins with good ones is the main skill in Poker.

Each player is dealt two cards. You then combine these with the five community cards to form a “hand.” The highest-ranking hand is a royal flush, consisting of a 10, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace of the same suit. Four of a kind is another good hand, consisting of four cards of the same rank, such as four aces.

Before the cards are dealt, one player, designated by the rules of the particular poker variant being played, may put an initial contribution into the pot, called an ante. If you want to raise the ante, say “I open.” Players can then choose whether or not to call your bet.

Some poker variants involve more than 10 players. In this case, the players may split into two separate games. In addition, the players may use a special fund for raising bets, known as a kitty. This kitty is usually composed of low-denomination chips and belongs to all the players. Any chips remaining in the kitty when the game ends are used to pay for new decks of cards and/or food.

It’s important to practice and watch experienced players to develop quick instincts. This will help you spot conservative players who always fold early and aggressive players who bet high.