A card game that originated in the sixteenth century, poker is now a global phenomenon. In its most basic form, players put in an amount of money before they see their cards, creating a pot and encouraging competition. Once the cards are dealt, each player can bet on their hand – a simple concept that creates an intense, fast-paced game with many nuances.

To play the game correctly, it’s important to quickly familiarize yourself with some basic rules and tactics. First, you need to understand what hands beat what. For example, a flush beats a straight and three of a kind beats two pair. Knowing this will help you determine how to play your cards and which hands to fold.

During the betting round, each player can either check, call or raise. Choosing to check means that you will pass on the chance to place a bet, while calling is to match the highest bet made at the table so far. Raise, meanwhile, is to increase the high bet and can be done verbally or in non-verbal ways.

It’s also worth paying attention to your opponents’ behavior in each round. Rather than trying to read subtle physical poker tells, the best way to learn how to read an opponent is to watch experienced players and assess how they react. This will build your own instincts and make you more successful when playing your own hands. Besides, understanding your opponents can make you more confident when betting and will help you avoid common blunders.