Poker is a card game in which players try to make the best five-card hand from two dealt cards and five community cards. It is a popular form of gambling, and is governed by rules that regulate betting patterns and interactions among players.

When playing poker, players first bet an ante, which is a small amount of money that is voluntarily put into the pot. Then they are dealt two cards each and can choose to fold, check, or raise, which adds more money to the betting pool.

The flop is where the action begins and can be crucial in determining the strength of your hands. In particular, you should avoid making a bet with weak hands like pocket queens or kings.

Another key element to winning poker is playing in position versus your opponents. This allows you to see their actions before they do so, giving you valuable information about their hand strength and helping you to make better decisions.

Bluffing is an integral part of poker, and it can be used to turn weak hands into strong ones when the flop hits. This is particularly true when you have a strong starting hand that doesn’t have the high-cards to make a straight or flush.

Control Your Table:

If you are seated at a table with too many aggressive players, it’s important to take control of the situation by calling the floor over and asking for a table change. Chances are that the floor will move you to a different table, which should allow you to get into a more favorable situation.