Poker is a game of cards where players try to make the best five-card hand from their own two personal cards and the community cards on the table. It can be played by two to 14 people, but in most games the ideal number of players is six or seven. In most forms of poker, each player puts an initial contribution into the pot, called an ante, and then bets during one or more betting intervals. The player with the highest hand wins the pot.

When it is your turn to act, you can fold, call (match a previous player’s bet amount), or raise (bet more than the last player). You can also choose not to bet at all, but you must bet in order to remain in the hand. If you are raising, you must say “raise” before you bet.

If you have a good hand and are in late position, it is often profitable to bet large amounts. This forces your opponents to either call or fold, and it can increase the size of your winnings.

It is also important to be aware of your opponent’s range and the odds of their hands, especially on later streets. Some players tend to be very loose on early streets and can win a lot of money with weak hands, while others are tight-conservative and only play strong, low-risk hands. The best poker players know how to calculate pot odds and percentages quickly and quietly, have patience to wait for optimal hands, and adapt their strategy in the face of changing circumstances.