Poker is a card game played between two or more players and involves betting. The object of the game is to win the pot (the sum of all bets) by having a higher-ranking hand than any of your opponents. Although the outcome of a single deal of poker significantly involves luck, in general, the game is decided by strategy and player psychology.

To play poker, you must ante a certain amount of money (the exact amount varies from game to game). You are then dealt cards and can choose to fold, call, or raise. Raise means adding more money to the pot; the other players then decide whether or not to call your new bet.

When you are in a hand and think that your opponent has a strong one, it is often better to fold than to risk it all by calling an outrageous bet and possibly losing a large amount of chips. This is especially true if you have a weak hand and know that the other players are betting on the assumption that you have a good one.

It is important to watch the other players at your table and try to guess what they might have. This is not always easy, but after a few hands you should be able to narrow down their possible holdings with some accuracy. This will help you to make educated bets and increase your chances of winning. In addition, it is important to keep your cards in sight at all times.