Poker is a card game where you compete with the other players at your table to win the most money. Although luck plays a large role in poker, over time you can learn to improve your chances of winning by developing quick instincts and avoiding over-analyzing your decisions. You also need to practice and observe the games you play in order to gain a deeper understanding of the strategy involved.

To begin a hand of poker, each player must ‘ante’ some amount of money into the pot in the middle (this amount varies by game). When betting gets around to you, you can either Call the current bet or raise it. When you raise, the other players must either match or fold your bet in order to continue playing.

Once everyone has their two hole cards, the dealer reveals one more card, called the flop. This is followed by another round of betting, starting with the player to the left of the dealer. After this, the dealer reveals the final fifth community card, known as the river. If at least one player has a four-of-a-kind or better, they win the pot.

Your goal should be to play aggressively when you can, but remember that sometimes you will have bad luck and need to fold if your opponents are good. Generally speaking, you want to play against players who are worse than you, as this will maximize your win-rate.