Poker is a game of chance, but it also involves a lot of skill and psychology. It’s not a game that you can just sit down and play without learning anything (unless you’re a super lucky person). That is why it’s best to start at the lowest stakes possible so that you can learn the game without risking a lot of money.
Each betting interval, called a round, begins when one player makes a bet of chips. The players to his left must then decide whether or not to call the bet, raise it or drop (i.e. fold). Once the betting is complete the dealer deals three cards on the board that everyone can use (the flop).
Your hand’s strength is usually only good or bad in relation to what other people have. For example, you may have a pair of kings off the deal that aren’t bad, but they will lose 82% of the time to an A-A.
You can get a better idea of what your opponents have by looking at the size of their raises and stack sizes. For instance, if your opponent raises with a small stack it’s probably safe to assume that they have a strong pair of kings or queens. On the other hand, if they have a medium stack then it’s likely that they have a high card and a low kicker or are trying to make a straight or flush.