Poker is a game of chance, but it can also involve quite a bit of skill and psychology. The best way to learn is by playing with friends or joining a local poker league.

The first step is obtaining a deck of cards, typically in the form of a small pack. Alternatively, you can sign up for an online poker site and play for real money. You’ll find a lot of free poker apps too.

Once you have the cards, the next step is to cut them. This can be done by one of the players, or the dealer may do this. It is important to do this a few times so that the cards are well mixed.

After the shuffle, betting begins in a clockwise direction around the table. The player to the left of the dealer is known as the button. When betting gets around to you, if your card values are high, you can say “hit me” and the dealer will give you another card. If you are happy with your value, you can say “stay” and the dealer will keep your original two cards.

If you want to raise the amount of money that you’re putting into a hand, you can say “raise” and everyone else will have to choose whether or not to call your new bet. If someone calls, you can raise again and so on. When it comes time to showdown, the player with the highest five card poker hand wins the pot.

There are a few basic rules to poker that you should know before starting to play. The first rule is that you must ante a certain amount of money (the exact amount varies by game). You will then be dealt 2 cards face up. After the betting round is over, the dealer will put three more cards on the table that anyone can use (the flop).

You can check for a flush by looking at the suits of the cards. You can also make a straight by using 5 consecutive cards that skip in rank or suit, but not both. A full house is a combination of 3 matching cards of one rank and two matching cards of another rank. A pair is a pair of matching cards.

Lastly, you can make a three of a kind with 2 pairs and 1 unmatched card. High card breaks ties.

Practice and watch experienced players to develop quick instincts. This will help you win more hands. However, you should remember that no matter how good your instincts are, you’ll still lose a few hands and make some mistakes along the way. Just don’t let these setbacks discourage you and continue to work on your game. Over time, you’ll get better and be able to avoid some of the most common mistakes. By the end, you’ll be a poker pro in no time. Good luck!