Poker is a game of chance where the object is to form the highest ranking hand, winning a pot at the end of each betting round. The pot is the sum total of all bets placed by players. Players can check, or pass on betting, but may also raise, putting additional chips into the pot which their opponents must match or fold.
After the initial betting round is complete a third card is dealt face up on the table, called the flop. This is a community card that can be used by everyone. Another round of betting then takes place, this time based on the cards you have in your hand and the strength of other players’ hands.
Pairs, flushes and straights are all high-ranking hands. The highest-ranking hand is a Royal Flush, which is five consecutive cards of the same suit (clubs, diamonds, hearts or spades). Two pairs are two cards of the same rank and one unmatched card. A full house is three matching cards of one rank and two matching cards of another rank. A straight is 5 cards in consecutive order but from different suits.
To have a positive win rate and make a decent profit, you generally need to be better than half the players at your table. This means leaving your ego at the door and playing in positions where you have the best chance of success, which often requires some level of aggression.