There are 2 things to learn in poker, the making and ranking of hands, and the betting and gambling part (including folding and bluffing). The best way to get better at poker is to play a lot.

Start at low stakes and work your way up slowly so you can make mistakes without risking too much money. This will also allow you to practice the game with a coach and find your strengths and weaknesses. Use a hand history tracking software to help you identify areas where you can improve and set goals for each practice session.

After everyone has two cards, a third card is dealt face up on the table called the flop. This is a community card that anyone can use, and there is another round of betting. The player with the highest 5-card poker hand wins the pot, which includes all bets made during the previous rounds.

The most important skill in poker is being able to look beyond your own cards and consider what your opponents might have. This will allow you to make decisions based on their previous behavior and will help you understand how bets should be made against them. In order to learn this you will need to study the games of your favorite players and observe their gameplay. Watching the mistakes they make can help you avoid pitfalls in your own play, while studying their successful moves can expand your strategy and increase your winning potential.