Poker is a game of cards where players place chips in a pot to win. It’s not hard to learn the rules but a good poker player is also very observant and reads other players well. They know when to raise and call bets. They calculate pot odds and percentages quickly. They have patience and can adapt their strategies when necessary. In addition to these important skills, a good poker player knows how to deal with bad luck.

A good way to start learning poker is by observing experienced players at your local card room or casino. Watch how they act and think about how you would react in their situation. This will help you build your instincts and develop a winning strategy.

When it’s your turn to make a bet, you say “call” to match the last player’s raise or to stay in the hand. If you don’t want to stay in the hand, you can say “fold” and place your chips or cash in the pot.

After the first betting round is complete the dealer puts three community cards face-up on the board that everyone can use. This is called the flop. After the flop, another betting round takes place. If you have a good starting hand, like a pair of Kings or Queens, you should try to bet aggressively. This will force other players to either call your bet, fold, or bluff. The goal is to get your opponents to think twice about going head-to-head with you.