Poker is a card game in which players place chips (representing money) into the pot to form a hand. The player with the highest hand wins the pot. The game is played with a standard 52-card pack, although some games use multiple packs and sometimes include wild cards.

In most poker games, each player is required to put an initial amount into the pot before being dealt any cards – this is called a forced bet and is usually made by one or more players sitting at the table. Once the cards are dealt, players can then bet in turn on their hands.

When betting comes around to you, you can either call the previous bets (match them), raise your own bet by a certain percentage or fold. In the latter case, you lose all the bets that have been placed so far.

To play well, you need to be able to detach your emotions from each hand and assess it objectively. You also need to be able to read your opponents and understand how they bet. This includes being able to identify aggressive and conservative players.

Talking poker with other people who have good knowledge of the game is a great way to learn, but be careful about the people you choose to do it with. You want to talk to people who are at least as strong at poker as you are and have a good understanding of the game’s strategy.