Poker is a card game in which players bet on the strength of their hands. The player with the highest ranked hand wins the pot–all the money bet during the hand. Depending on the rules, players may ante (put in an initial amount of money before the cards are dealt), raise or fold.

To begin playing, you must “ante” (put in an initial amount of money before getting your cards). Then the person to your left puts in a bet called the small blind. Next, you can either call the bet and play your hand or fold if you don’t want to play. If you fold, turn your cards face-down.

The game is played in a circle with the dealer dealing the cards. The player to your left has the button, which rotates clockwise after each hand. This determines who deals the cards and who starts betting each time.

Betting in poker is a complex equation that involves balancing risk vs reward and the strength of your hand. Ideally, you want to play aggressively with strong value hands like a pair of Kings or Queens.

You should also try to read your opponents. This isn’t done by reading subtle physical poker tells, but rather by analyzing patterns. For example, if you notice an opponent checking their chips a lot, they might be over-thinking and arriving at wrong conclusions. This is an important part of the game because it allows you to make more educated bets and keep your opponents guessing.