Poker is a game of skill, strategy, and chance. It is played by a large community of players who make the game a regular part of their lives and enjoy spending time together at the table. This social aspect of the game makes it a great way to meet people and share stories with new friends.

The goal of poker is to extract the most value from your winning hands while minimizing losses from losing hands. This is called Minimise Losses – Maximise Wins (M-Max). It is also possible to win a hand by bluffing, which can make it even more profitable than a pure playing strategy.

In most variants, players place forced bets – typically the ante and blind – into a pot before dealing cards. Each player then places additional chips into the pot if they wish to stay in the hand until it reaches a showdown. Players may raise the amount they have placed into the pot, or fold.

The basic building blocks of poker are straightforward: Three of a Kind beats Two Pair, which consists of two matching cards and one unrelated card; Straights (five consecutive cards of any suit) beat Flushes, which contain all the same suits; and Pairs beat both Straights and Flushes. Various combinations of these elements can lead to complex hands that have many strategic implications. To develop a strong understanding of the game, try to play several games and observe more experienced players as they play to build up your instincts.