Poker is a game of chance, but when betting comes into play it becomes much more of a game of skill and psychology. This article is meant to be a basic primer into the rules of poker (for more information, get a book on it).
There are a few key concepts you need to understand in order to play well at any level of poker. The first of these is understanding starting hands and position. These will set the stage for your decision making throughout a hand. It is also important to know your poker hand rankings and to practice bankroll management. This means that you should only play within your buy-in range and never commit all of your money to a hand.
During a hand, each player must first ante up some amount of money (the amount varies by game and can be anything from a nickel to a dollar). The dealer then shuffles the cards and deals 2 hole cards to each player. Then there is a round of betting (the amount of money put into the pot) initiated by two mandatory bets called blinds made by players to the left of the dealer.
After the betting round is over, the flop is revealed. You will then have the option of discarding and drawing replacement cards to create a final hand of five. You can use this opportunity to bluff and raise opponents, or you can simply call and hope that you have a good enough hand to make it by the river.