How to Play Poker

Poker is a card game played by two or more people. It involves betting, bluffing, and reading your opponents. It’s a fun, social game and can be quite lucrative if you play well. It’s also a great test of, and window into, human nature.

Almost all poker games require players to put up some money before they get to see their cards. This is called the ante. Once everyone has placed their antes, betting starts. The player to the left of the dealer is the first to bet, or call, and they then have a choice to hit, stay, or double up.

If you have a good hand, bet big early. This will scare off other players and give you a better chance of winning. If you’re unsure about your hand, just fold. Don’t stick around calling hoping you can get the 10 that would give you a straight or two diamonds to make a flush, that’s just stupid and wastes your money.

When you have a premium opening hand, like a pair of kings or queens, bet aggressively to take advantage of your opponent’s weakness. They might think you have a strong hand and call, or they might assume you’re bluffing, so they will fold.