Poker is a card game played between two or more players and using chips. A standard pack of 52 cards is used, although some variants use multiple packs or add jokers. The aim is to make the best five-card hand, with your own two personal cards and the five community cards on the table.
To play, each player antes some amount of money into the pot (typically around a nickel). Then the betting round begins. Once the betting is complete, only the highest hand wins the pot. Players take turns clockwise around the table revealing their hands. The high hand is the one that has two distinct pairs, a straight, or a flush. The high card also breaks ties in the case of multiple people having the same pair.
For beginners, it is best to play tight, and avoid bluffing unless there is a good chance that your opponents will fold. The top 20% of hands win in a six-player game, and 15% in a 10-player game.
To improve your game, learn to read your opponents. The best time to do this is when they are not involved in a hand, when you can see the small tells that they give off. It is also a great idea to practice your strategy by playing against yourself in a variety of games, and by discussing your results with other players for a more objective look at how you are improving.