Poker is a card game where players place chips into the pot and win it if they have the highest-ranking hand at the end of each betting round. It’s a fast-paced game with a lot of chance and risk, but it also involves strategy, psychology, and knowledge of probability. There are dozens of variations of the game, but it’s important to understand the basics to be successful.

A good starting point is to read up on the rules and hand rankings. Then, spend time studying how different players play the game and learn about tells. Practice watching others play and reading hands to develop quick instincts.

Once you’ve mastered the basic rules, it’s time to start playing for real money. This typically means joining a live game in a casino or card room and placing bets based on the information in your hand and your understanding of the odds of winning a particular hand.

A good rule of thumb for when you should raise or fold is that if your cards aren’t very strong, it’s often best to just fold. However, if you’re holding a good hand, you should generally raise to price weaker hands out of the pot and improve your chances of winning the hand.