Poker is a card game with many variants, but they all have some things in common. The first and most important is a system of hand rankings. This system tells you what hands beat what and is used to break ties when players have the same hand. It is important to memorize these rankings as they are the basis of all betting in the game.
The next thing that is common to all poker games is the betting round. Each player is required to place a bet before they see their cards. This creates a pot instantly and encourages competition. It also means that even weaker hands can be raised by more experienced players.
Once the betting is complete the dealer deals three cards face up on the table that everyone can use. These are called community cards and they help to make up a poker hand.
Then the dealer puts another card on the board that anyone can use, this is called the turn. Finally the dealer puts a fifth card on the board that anyone can use, known as the river.
The best poker hand is a royal flush, this consist of five consecutive cards of the same suit. The second highest hand is a straight, this is a series of consecutive cards that skip around in rank and can be of different suits. The third highest hand is a pair, this consists of two cards of the same rank.