Poker is a card game where players wager money against each other in a competition to see who has the strongest hand. The winner of the pot is awarded a set number of chips. The game can be played with one or more opponents and is based on a combination of probability, psychology, and strategy.

The first thing you should do when starting to learn poker is study the game’s rules. Having this knowledge will help you make sound decisions at the table and prevent you from making silly mistakes. Next, it’s important to understand the basics of betting in poker. The game starts when one player places an ante into the pot. Then the rest of the players must either call the bet or raise it. If a player does not want to call the bet, they must fold.

A key concept to remember is that your opponent’s actions are based on their own perceived odds of winning. Therefore, it’s important to read their tells and use them to your advantage. This is especially true if you are playing against weaker opponents. The best way to develop this skill is to watch experienced players and practice your own reads.

Finally, the most important part of learning poker is to practice regularly and start at lower stakes. This will allow you to experiment with different strategies and learn from your mistakes without placing a lot of risk on your bankroll.