The Basics of Poker

Poker is a card game in which players wager money against one another, traditionally for cash or poker chips. A player’s actions and decisions in a hand are determined by a combination of chance, psychology, and game theory. Players use these tools to make bets that have a positive expected value in the long run, while bluffing against other players for strategic reasons.

A player can raise the amount of a bet by “calling.” The other players must then choose to either call or fold their hands. A player may also re-raise his or her own bet by a specified amount. Often, players will bet at least the amount they staked when their turn comes to act, and may raise the bet further when their opponents make calls.

If a player has a strong hand, it is best to raise. This forces weaker hands out of the pot and increases the value of the remaining pot. When playing a weak hand, it is usually better to fold than to call. A player can also bluff with a bad hand, although this is more risky than raising.