Poker is a card game played between two or more players with the objective of winning the pot (the total sum of all bets made during a hand). The most common way to win is to have a high poker hand.
Each player pays an initial amount, referred to as the ante or blind, before being dealt cards. Once everyone has their cards, the betting starts in a clockwise direction. A player can either call, raise or fold.
If a player has a strong hand, they will usually call and raise, forcing weak hands to fold and increasing the value of their own hand. On the other hand, if they think their hand is bad, they can fold and let the rest of the players compete for the pot.
Bluffing is a vital part of poker but beginners should not start trying to bluff until they have developed their relative hand strength. Until then, it is better to focus on playing solid hands and improving your position.
Observing experienced players and imagining how you would react in their position is an excellent way to build quick instincts. Studying ONE concept at a time, rather than jumping around from topic to topic is the best way to improve your game and make consistent progress.