Poker is a card game where players bet money into a pot in order to try and make a winning hand. While there is a large element of chance in the outcome of any particular hand, most bets are made on the basis of expected value and psychology.
The first step is to ante something (the amount varies by game) and then get dealt two cards. Then each player places their bets into the pot, either in chips or cash. The person with the highest hand wins the pot.
When betting gets around to you, if your original cards are low in value, say hit me to indicate that you want another card. If they are high in value, you can stay and raise the bet instead. If you want to double up, point to a card and say hit me twice.
After the first betting round is complete the dealer puts three more cards on the table that anyone can use called the flop. Then the next betting round begins again. At this point if you have a strong enough hand, it can be beneficial to bet as this will force weaker hands out of the hand and increase the overall pot value.
However, be careful not to over-bet your hand as this can give away too much information. It’s also good to leave your cards in sight so that the dealer can see that you’re still in the hand. This prevents the unfortunate situation where you are caught bluffing and are accused of cheating.