Poker is a card game in which players place bets (representing money) into a central pot. The best hand wins the pot. Players have seven cards total to use in their hands: two personal cards in their own hand and five community cards on the table.

There is some luck involved in poker, but a good understanding of game theory and the ability to read your opponents will give you an edge over most players. It is also important to be able to control your emotions, as it is easy to let frustration get the better of you. It is also important not to blame the dealer or other players for bad beats, as this can ruin the fun for everyone at the table.

After the flop, each player gets another chance to bet/check/raise/fold. If more than one player has a pair, then the higher pair wins. If no pairs are made, then the highest single card breaks ties.

It is often advantageous to play a wider range of hands from late positions. If you are short-stacked, it can be worth shoving all-in on the turn if your stack-to-pot ratio is close to one. However, you should avoid calling re-raises with weak or marginal hands unless you have a strong read. You should also be aware of your opponents’ chip stacks and try to exploit them if possible. If you can tell that someone is short-stacked, they will be desperate to make a move and can be very difficult to beat.