Poker is a card game played between two or more players and is one of the most popular games in casinos. Although the game is a gambling game, money only enters the pot voluntarily by players who believe that betting has positive expected value and/or for strategic reasons (such as bluffing). The goal is to extract as much money as possible from winning hands and minimize losses from losing hands.

The player to the left of the dealer makes forced bets before the cards are dealt, and then the dealer shuffles, cuts, and deals each player their starting hand, face-up or face-down depending on the variant of the game. During the course of the hand, each player can raise, call or fold their bets. The highest hand wins the pot (the total amount of chips bet in a single round).

Every action, whether it’s a fold, call or raise, gives away bits of information to your opponents. This information helps them build a story about your strength or weakness. If you raise a lot, it’s likely that you have a good hand; calling a lot is probably a sign of weakness.

Players must learn how to read their opponents and use these stories to their advantage. This requires practice and observation. Watching experienced players can help you develop quick instincts. It’s also important to identify weak areas of your game and focus on improving them. It’s often difficult to change your habits, but small improvements can have a big impact on your results.