Poker is a game that involves betting in which the highest hand wins. It is a card game that uses a standard deck of 52 cards (although some games use multiple packs or add wild cards). The cards are ranked (from high to low) A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5 and 4 and there are four suits: spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs.
Initially all players must ante something (the amount varies by game, ours is typically a nickel) to be dealt cards. Once everyone has their cards they bet into the pot in the middle of the table in clockwise order. If no one else opens the bet, a player can say “I open” and raise the amount of the ante.
After the first round of betting is complete the dealer deals three more cards face-up on the board, which are community cards that anyone can use (this is called the flop). At this point you can call a bet or fold your hand. If you have a strong hand, you should try to force weaker hands out by raising.
The key to winning is developing quick instincts by observing experienced players and thinking about how you would react in their position. As you play and watch more, the concepts of frequencies, ranges, and EV estimation will begin to stick in your brain. But be careful, it can be easy to get caught out with a bad hand and feel silly!