The game of poker involves betting and bluffing. While the outcome of any hand in poker is determined by chance, a good player can make money long term by making intelligent decisions based on probability and psychology.
When betting gets around to your position you can choose to fold, call or raise. Typically, you want to call when the pot odds are in your favor and raise only when you have a strong hand that can fend off opponents.
Players are required to place an initial amount of chips into the pot before they are dealt cards (the amount varies by game). This is known as the ante or blinds. After this players then bet into the middle of the table, in a clockwise fashion. The highest hand wins the pot at the end of the round.
A straight consists of five consecutive cards from the same suit. A flush contains three matching cards of one rank and two matching cards of another rank. A full house is made up of four matching cards of one rank and a single card of another rank. A pair is two distinct cards of the same rank. The highest card breaks ties.
Never gamble more than you can afford to lose. It is important to learn the basics before you play for real money. If you are serious about learning to play poker, consider joining a poker training site that will give you structured courses and help you develop solid fundamentals.