Poker is a card game played with a standard 52-card deck and the aim is to win wagers by making the best hand or convincing other players to fold. It can be played between two and seven people, but it is most often played with five or six players. It is sometimes played with one or more jokers/wild cards, but the rules of poker are not altered by their inclusion.
The cards are shuffled and then dealt one at a time, face up, to each player in turn, starting with the player to the left of the dealer. After the cards are dealt, the player to the right of the dealer may cut. The turn to deal and the turn to bet always pass from player to player, although in some games the person who cuts has last resort rights.
If you want to raise the amount of money in play, say “raise” and each player must choose whether to call your new bet or to fold. You can also say “call” if you wish to match the bet of another player.
It’s important to understand the different betting styles of the players at your table. Conservative players tend to bet low, which can be good for your chances of winning a hand by bluffing, while aggressive players will often bet high early in the hand, aiming to force weak hands to fold. You can use the information gained to calculate their chances of a winning hand, which should give you an idea how much to bet.