Poker is a game of cards played by a group of players around a table. The rules vary slightly between different poker variants, but generally the dealer shuffles a deck and then deals each player one card from a random selection. The highest card becomes the button, and the person clockwise from them cuts the deck to advance play as described below. After each hand, the player who has the best poker hand takes the pot. If there is a tie, the dealer wins.

A poker hand is determined by the combination of cards in your hand, the rank of those cards, and how many unmatched cards you have. The best hand is a Royal Flush, which consists of five consecutive cards in the same suit. A straight contains five cards of consecutive rank, and a three of a kind is made up of three matching cards of one rank. Two pair is made up of two matching cards, and a full house has three of a kind and one unmatched card.

Position is a big factor in determining how aggressive you should be in your betting. Early positions are tight, while late positions are better for making moves against opponents.

Observe experienced players and imagine how you would react in their situation to build your instincts. Practice, watch, and learn how to play poker quickly. Over time, your instincts will improve, and you will develop an intuitive sense of things like frequencies and expected value.