The game of poker has gained a reputation for being largely luck based but there is actually a lot of skill involved. In order to play well at poker one must be able to make good decisions both before the flop and after the flop. This is a very important part of the game and can make or break your chances of winning a hand. The best way to learn how to play poker is by both gaining theoretical knowledge (of the rules and hand rankings) and through practice.

The first step is to understand the basic rules of poker. Once you have this down it is time to start thinking about the strategy behind the game. Probably the most important thing to remember is that you should only gamble with money that you are willing to lose. It is also a good idea to keep track of your wins and losses.

To begin a hand, each player puts in an ante. Then the cards are shuffled and dealt. The person to the left of the dealer is then the “button” and places their bets after each round.

After the flop is dealt there are three more rounds of betting where each player gets the chance to check, raise or fold. In the final round called the river, an additional card is added to the board and again everyone gets a chance to bet.

The highest ranked poker hand wins the pot which is all of the bets made during that hand. However, there are many different ways to win a hand including having the best pair, four of a kind or straight.