Poker is a card game in which players independently try to assemble the highest value hand of cards. The goal is to win cash or poker chips, which are used as the medium of exchange. But the game is also a story of communication and strategy. Every action a player takes – whether they fold, call, check, or raise – gives away bits of information to their opponents. In turn, those pieces of information are woven together by their opponents to build stories about them. These stories can reveal strength, weakness, and even tell a lie. The best poker players know how to read these tells.

A betting round is started when the active player to the left of the dealer starts revealing their hole cards, one at a time. The player is trying to beat the high card in the middle with their own cards – either by getting a pair, three of a kind, a straight, or a flush.

Players can choose to fold (exit the hand), check (put no money into the pot), or bet (amount equal to the last player’s raise). The best way to increase your chances of winning is to raise, as this prices all weaker hands out of the pot.

However, raising isn’t always the right move if your hand isn’t strong enough. A good rule of thumb is to only raise when you have a very strong starting hand. Otherwise, you’re better off just folding.