Poker is a card game where players place chips (representing money) into the pot, with the highest hand winning the pot. The game may be played with any number of players, although it is typically a game for six or more players.

Before cards are dealt, each player must place a bet into the pot. The player to the left of the dealer, designated by the button, has the privilege or obligation to make the first bet. After each betting interval, the button passes clockwise to the next player.

A good poker player will be able to read the other players at the table. This includes watching for “tells” – not only the obvious ones like fiddling with their chips or wearing a ring, but also the way a player plays poker. A player who is raising all the time and calling weak hands is likely to be strong, whereas a player that folds early in most hands and shows up late at the table is usually weak.

Another important skill to learn is how to put an opponent on a range. This is a more advanced skill but can really help your poker game improve. You need to think about all the possible combinations your opponent could have and work out how likely they are to beat yours. Eventually this will become a natural part of your game and you will find yourself automatically counting frequencies and estimating EVs.