Poker is a card game played by two or more players. Each player is dealt two cards and the goal is to make the best five card hand using these and the community cards. The cards are dealt clockwise around the table and a betting phase follows each time one of the players decides to place a bet. Then the players reveal their hands and whoever has the best hand wins the pot.
As a beginner, you should play tight and avoid playing crazy hands, especially on the button. If you want to get into a hand, the most effective way to do it is to raise. This will price out the worse hands and improve your chances of winning. Beginners should also watch experienced players to build their instincts and learn how they react. They should pay special attention to tells, the unconscious habits of a player that may give away information about their hand.
It is important to understand the rules of Poker before you start playing. The dealer does the shuffling and is responsible for distributing chips into the main pot and side pots. They should do several shuffles and cut the deck more than once to ensure that the cards are completely mixed. The dealer is not allowed to answer the question, “How much is in the pot?” but they are permitted to push the chips into a player’s direction after they have gone all in.