Poker is a card game in which players form hands according to card rankings in order to win the pot at the end of each betting round. The pot is the sum of all bets placed by all players. It is possible to win the pot by making a strong hand, or by placing a large bet that forces weaker hands to fold. There is also a certain amount of luck in poker, but skill can override this in the long run.

When you are playing poker, it is important to know how to read your opponents, especially their tells. These are unconscious habits that reveal information about a player’s hand. They can be as subtle as a change in body language or as obvious as a gesture.

A strong hand in poker consists of 5 cards of equal rank, in consecutive sequence or in more than one suit. The other common types of hands are 4 of a kind, 3 of a kind, 2 pair, and straight.

When it is your turn to place a bet, you can say “raise” or “call” to add money to the betting pool. You can also say “fold” if you do not wish to raise or call the previous player’s bet.