Poker is a card game where players compete to make the best hand possible. Players place an initial amount of money into the pot before cards are dealt (the ante). They then bet on each other’s hands and whoever has the highest hand wins the pot. Players can fold, call, or raise.

The game has hundreds of different variations, but this article will cover the basics of gameplay. There are many ways to improve your poker game, including playing and watching experienced players. Observe their actions and consider how they would react in different situations to develop your own quick instincts.

It is important to understand how position affects your starting hand range and strategy. The earlier you are in the hand, the more risk you take because you have less information about other player’s hands. Players who act first are also at a disadvantage because their opponents have more time to think about their options and can adjust their own bet amounts accordingly.

There are a few basic rules that every poker player should know. For example, you must say “call” if you want to make a bet the same as the last person’s bet. This lets other players know that you plan on staying in the hand and allows them to adjust their bet amounts accordingly. Similarly, you must say “raise” if you want to bet more than the previous player’s raise. This tells other players that you have a good enough hand to justify raising your bet and makes them think twice about calling.