Poker is a card game where players make bets during a hand. The player with the highest ranked hand when all the cards are shown wins the pot – all of the money that has been bet during the hand. Players may “call” a bet or raise a bet. Saying “call” means to match the last person’s bet or raise, and then place your chips or cash into the pot. Players can also fold during a hand.

A strong poker player will fast-play a good hand to build the pot and potentially chase off other players who are waiting for draws that could beat their hand. This is a great way to get value out of a good hand, and it can make your opponents think twice about calling your bets when you have a strong one.

There are many different rules of poker, and it’s important to understand the basics before you start playing for real money. To start with, you’ll need to know how the cards are dealt and what the different betting terms mean. You’ll also need to learn about how to read the table.

Whether you’re playing poker as a hobby or professionally, you should only play when you feel happy and motivated. If you’re feeling frustrated or tired, it’s best to walk away from the table and come back another day. Otherwise, you’re likely to make bad decisions that will cost you a lot of money.