Poker is a card game in which players bet (usually chips representing money, although in some games money or other objects are used instead) on the probability of having a winning hand. It involves skill, psychology and luck, but the element of chance is still very important. In fact, it is the reason why even great poker players lose sometimes.

A betting interval (or round) begins when one player, in turn, places a bet of one or more chips into the pot. This player’s opponents can call that bet, raise it by adding more chips, or drop their cards and leave the game.

Depending on the rules of the particular poker variant being played, one or more additional cards are then dealt to each player (these may be replacement cards drawn from the deck after the initial deal). The cards are then gathered into the pot and the best hand wins the pot.

The key to a good poker strategy is patience. Beginners tend to get excited when they get a strong poker hand, but it’s important to wait for a situation where the odds are in your favour. Also, be sure to raise enough to push players with weak hands out of the pot and force them to cough up their chips.

You should also be aggressive when it makes sense, such as when you have a strong poker hand in position. This will help the pot grow larger and make it more difficult for your opponents to fold when they have a poor hand.