Poker is played with a standard pack of 52 cards (with some games adding jokers). The cards are ranked as high, low and in suit (clubs, diamonds, hearts and spades) with the highest hand winning. In most cases, players “buy in” for a certain amount of chips to play a hand, but the exact number of chips and what color they are depends on the game.
Before the first hand is dealt, a few shuffles are typically done to mix up the cards a bit. Then, the dealer puts a fifth card on the table which everyone can use for betting (raising and re-raising are allowed). When your turn comes up, you can either match or raise the last player’s bet by saying “call.”
You will want to learn how to read other players’ betting patterns and determine their emotional stability. The more you understand how to play the game and how to read your opponents, the better you will be able to win. This is important because even though you may have a superior hand, if your opponent is on tilt you will not be able to capitalize on it. It is also wise to start out at the lowest stakes and work your way up slowly so that you can avoid donating money to great players. Instead you can play a lot of hands versus players who can’t beat you and gain experience and confidence. This will allow you to play for a long time without demolishing your bankroll.