Poker is a card game in which players bet to win chips and the best five-card poker hand. Depending on the game rules, players may have the option to check, put an amount into the pot that their opponents must match or raise (to bet more than their opponent’s previous stake). They can also fold.

When you first start playing, be conservative with your hands. Observe player tendencies and open up your range as you gain experience. This will allow you to profit in the long run.

A common mistake is to limp in late position. This gives your opponents an easy pass to see the flop for cheap with mediocre holdings and leaves you short stacked post-flop, making it hard to make good decisions. If you have a strong hand, raise to price out the weaker hands.

A common saying in poker is that your hands are only good or bad in relation to what the other players are holding. For example, you might have a pair of kings and think it’s a great hand. But if your opponent holds A-A and the flop comes J-J-5, your kings will lose 82% of the time. If you want to win the most money, you should play your hands aggressively. Unless you have a very strong hand, raising is the best way to get the maximum value out of your cards. This will often result in your opponents folding and you winning the most money.