Poker is a card game played by a group of players around a table. In most variants the cards are dealt face-up and one or more betting rounds occur. The player with the highest hand wins the pot. The cards may be discarded and replaced during or after a betting round.

Learn the rules of poker before you play it. This will help you make better decisions. Read strategy books and talk to winning players to understand different strategies. Practice and watch experienced players to develop quick instincts.

When it is your turn to bet, say “call” or “I call” if you want to bet the same amount as the last person. You can also raise a bet to add more money into the pot. Say “raise” if you want to increase the amount of your bet and leave the other players to decide whether to call or fold.

New poker players often feel timid about playing trashy hands but this is a mistake. You should bet with strong hands as this will force weaker opponents to fold and make the pot larger. In addition, bluffing can turn a trashy hand into a monster one. Try to identify conservative players by watching how they play their cards – they fold early and can be easily bluffed. You can also tell if a player is aggressive by the way they bet and how quickly they call bets. The more aggressive players are easier to bluff against because they tend to bet high and don’t wait for good cards before raising.