Poker is a game of strategy, luck and skill. The basic objective is to have the best hand possible without bluffing your opponent out of the pot. There are several types of poker, but the most popular is Texas Hold’Em.

The game begins with each player putting an initial amount of money into the pot, called an ante. Once the ante is placed, the dealer deals two cards face down to each player. Then, each player chooses whether to play the hand or fold.

Once all players have made a decision, they advance to the next round, known as the flop. The dealer burns a card, which is the top card of the deck. Then, all players that have not already folded advance to the flop and start another betting round.

Most new players feel timid about playing trashy hands, but they need to understand that a weak hand on the flop can turn into a monster in a short time. Moreover, a mediocre hand is usually worth betting with on the flop as well, especially when there are five people in front of you who are checking/limping into the pot.