Poker is a card game played between two or more players. Each player must place chips (representing money) into the pot in turn. A white chip is worth the minimum ante or bet amount, while a red chip represents the same amount in multiples of 10. When you say “raise,” you add more money to the pot and can expect the other players to either call your new bet or fold.

The first betting round happens after each player gets 2 cards from the dealer. If you believe your hand is weak, you can say stay to keep it in the hand and hope for the best or double up with a different pair. If your hand is strong, you should bet to force out other hands.

After the first betting round is over, the dealer deals three more cards face up on the board that everyone can use. This is called the flop.

From this point on, players can raise or fold their cards based on their hand strength and how they think the other players will play them. A strong hand like AK is usually a good bet because you’ll have the best chance of winning by scaring off weaker hands.

Pay attention to your opponent’s patterns and try to read them. Most players don’t have subtle physical poker tells, but you can learn a lot from their betting habits. For example, if you see a player checking frequently, you can assume they’re holding crappy cards and are scared to bet too much.