Poker is a betting card game that requires the ability to read your opponents, predict odds, and make big bluffs. It has dozens of variations, but most involve betting chips that can be won or lost by players who show their cards at the end of the hand.

The goal of the game is to collect more chips than your opponents, so players place bets based on their understanding of probability and psychology. A player can raise a bet by increasing the number of chips that they put in the pot, up to a maximum amount. This is called “raising the stakes.”

A player may fold at any time during the betting phase, and this means that they will drop out of the round. In the event that all players except one player fold, that player wins the pot/all bets.

A common misconception among new poker players is to play conservatively, especially in smaller games. But to play well at poker, it’s important to bet aggressively, especially if you have a premium opening hand like a pair of Kings, Queens or Aces. This will let other players know that you have a strong hand and aren’t afraid to take risks. You should also keep an eye out for tells, which are the unconscious habits that reveal information about your hand. These can be as subtle as a change in posture or facial expression. They are less important in limit play, where the odds of winning a hand are so high that players don’t need to worry about their opponents’ tells as much.