A game of poker involves betting among players who each have a set number of cards. The player with the best five-card hand wins the pot. In addition to the cards dealt, each player must place a forced bet before they see their own card (either the ante or the blind).

A key part of any poker strategy is looking beyond your own cards and thinking about what your opponents might have. This requires learning a variety of tells, such as an opponent’s eye movements, idiosyncrasies, hand gestures and betting behavior. For example, if an opponent is very tight but then suddenly raises a lot of money it could be a sign that they have a good hand.

Another key aspect of the game is position. Being in late position allows you to make fewer calls, and gives you “bluff equity” (which means simple, cheap and effective bluffing opportunities).

After each betting round, the players reveal their cards and the person with the best hand wins the pot. Then a new round of antes and blinds begins.

If you’re not in position, it’s best to fold unless your cards are very strong. Otherwise you’ll get beaten by people who hold a pair of kings on the flop, for example. It’s also bad to bet aggressively because you might force weaker hands into the pot, and it can discourage other players from calling your bets if they don’t have high-ranking cards in their hand.