Whether you’re an avid player or just starting out, poker is a great social game that can be played with friends and family. But before you can enjoy this mentally intensive game, there are some things you need to know first.

First, you’ll need to learn the basic rules of poker. This is the foundation that will allow you to start learning more advanced strategies. For example, you’ll want to understand what a raise means (when someone raises a previous high bet). You’ll also need to understand position (acting last gives you better information about how’strong’ your opponent is and you can steal their blind bets with a cheeky raise!).

The basic game is played with a standard pack of 52 cards (although some games add wild cards). The cards are ranked (high to low) as Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10. There are four suits (spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs), but no suit is higher than another.

Each player gets two hole cards and then a round of betting begins. After everyone has acted, the dealer will reveal their cards for a showdown and the person with the highest hand wins the pot of money.

Bluffing is a huge part of the game, but beginners should not worry too much about it until they have a good grasp on relative hand strength. This will help them determine if they really have a strong hand and avoid making costly mistakes.