Poker is a card game where players place money into the pot before they are dealt their cards. This is called an ante, blind, or bring-in. This forced bet creates a pot right away and encourages people to play the hand.
Once everyone has their two hole cards there is a round of betting that starts with the player to the left of the dealer. Then a 3rd card is dealt face up on the board called the flop. This is when the action really heats up. This is because the players now have a more clear idea of what their opponents are holding and can start making more informed decisions.
When a player makes a bet you can either call, raise, or fold. If you have a strong hand, it is usually best to raise. This will push out weaker hands and increase the value of your hand. If you are in position, you should also be raising when possible as this will give you better bluffing opportunities.
Another good tip is to try and guess what your opponent has in their hand. This sounds like a difficult task but once you get used to it you can make pretty good educated guesses. For example, if a player bets a lot on a flop that is A-2-6 then you can assume they have a 2 in their hand and are trying to make three of a kind. This can be a very powerful bluff if you are in the position to pull it off.