Poker is a card game that relies on chance and skill. The odds are stacked against you and you should be aware of this at all times. This is why good poker players study their opponents and learn tells. They also know how to read the betting patterns of their opponents. Poker etiquette is similar to basic social etiquette and includes being respectful of other players, being attentive to the dealer, and keeping the gameplay running smoothly.
The first step in learning poker is to familiarize yourself with the game’s rules and hand rankings. This will help you understand the order of the strongest hands. For example, a pair of kings beats two pairs, and a flush beats straight cards. You should also memorize the naming convention for poker chips. Each player must buy in for a specific amount of chips, with each color representing a different value. A white chip is worth one ante, or the minimum bet; a red chip is worth five whites; and a blue chip is worth 10 whites.
Once the betting interval has begun, the dealer deals three community cards face-up on the table. This is known as the flop. Then, each player has a choice to call, raise, or fold. If a player does not call, they must place enough chips into the pot to match or exceed the total contribution of any previous player to the current betting interval. Otherwise, they are said to have “dropped” their hand and are no longer competing for the pot.