Poker is a card game in which players make wagers (the amount varies depending on the game) to form the best possible hand based on the ranking of cards. The highest-ranking hand wins the pot at the end of the betting round. The game usually begins with one or more forced bets, a small amount such as a dollar for every player.

After the ante is placed, the dealer shuffles and deals cards to each player. Then, in a betting interval, the player to the left of the dealer places chips into the pot. Each subsequent player must place his or her bet into the pot in turn, raising it if necessary to make the total contribution of all players equal to or greater than the initial forced bet.

The most important thing for beginners is to play tight. This means playing only the top 15-20% of hands in a six-player game or 15% of hands in a ten-player game. This minimizes the number of times a beginner is faced with a weak hand, making it more profitable to call bets and raise them when you have a strong hand.

A good poker player can learn to read his or her opponents and adjust their decisions accordingly. This is often achieved by learning to read facial expressions and body language. However, there are other more specific tells that can be used to get a better feel for how your opponent is feeling in a particular situation. These include their eye movements, the way they move their chips around and the time it takes them to make a decision.