Poker is a card game played by two or more players. Each player places a bet (of chips or money) into the pot based on their opinion of the chances of making a good hand. The game also involves bluffing, in which players make bets without having the best possible hand in order to try to force other players to fold.
The rules of Poker vary slightly from one variant to another, but the basic game is the same. In most games each player must place a forced bet into the pot, called the ante or blind bet. A player may then choose to call a bet, raise it or fold. If a player has a good hand they will usually raise it. This forces other players to call and often leads to a large pot.
Once all the bets are made the dealer will deal three cards face up on the table that everyone can use, this is called the flop. Then each player can again raise, call or fold. Generally beginners should play tight, meaning they should only play the top 20% of hands in a six-player game and 15% of hands in a ten-player game.
The best way to improve your poker game is to practice. You can practice by playing with friends or even strangers on the internet. You can also learn by studying your opponents at the table. Most strong players have certain chinks in their armor and by finding them you can exploit them.