Poker is a card game that can be played by two or more people. In its most basic form, players compete to assemble the highest-ranking five-card hand over a series of betting rounds. The player with the best hand wins the “pot,” which may be in the form of cash, chips or other units. There are many different poker variants, but the fundamental rules are the same across all variations.

Poker requires careful attention to your own cards and to the betting behavior of other players in order to make the most profitable decisions. It is also important to understand that poker is a game of chance and probability. Even expert poker players can make mistakes, and learning from these mistakes can help you avoid making the same errors in your own games.

The first step in playing poker is to grasp the game’s basic rules and hand rankings. Taking the time to learn these aspects of the game will improve your chances of winning and will give you a good starting point for your gameplay.

Once you have mastered the basics, you should focus on improving your decision-making and understanding the optimal moments to fold. This will help you to protect your bankroll and maximize profitability.

One of the most common mistakes made by poker beginners is overestimating the strength of their own hand. For example, pocket kings might seem like a strong hand but an ace on the flop will spell doom for them. The same goes for other strong hands such as straights and flushes.