Poker is a card game played for several rounds with players betting money on the strength of their cards. It involves strategic choices based on probability, psychology, and game theory.

A player’s ability to read other players is a crucial skill in poker. Although subtle physical poker tells can help, many good reads come from patterns in betting behavior. For example, if an opponent calls every time then it’s likely they have a weak hand. Conversely, if an opponent doesn’t call as much it’s often a sign that they have a strong one.

Before a hand begins each player must place a bet called an ante. An ante is different from the blind because it is placed in the pot before the hand is dealt. A player may also place a raise or all-in bet in addition to the ante.

Once the antes and blind have been placed, each player receives five cards. These cards are hidden and each player bets on the strength of their hand. After a round of betting, the hands are revealed and the player with the strongest hand wins the pot.

A pair of Aces or Kings are considered to be strong hands but a bad flop can easily turn them into a loser. For example, if your pocket pair is an Ace and the flop is A-8-5 then you should consider folding because your opponent is probably holding a stronger hand than yours.