Poker is a card game in which players try to make the best possible hand. It is played by a number of different variants, but the rules are pretty much the same for most of them.

The game starts when each player is dealt five cards, and a round of betting begins. The first player in the hand makes a bet, and each player to the left of them must either “call” the bet by placing the same number of chips into the pot as the previous bet; or “raise” the bet by adding more chips.

When the betting is complete, each player receives a new set of cards. If they have a good hand, they can then bet again; if not, they can fold their hand and lose the chips in the pot.

A lot of players think that if they have put a lot of chips into the pot and have yet to see the flop, then they should call and throw in however much it takes, instead of folding. This is the wrong approach for most hands in poker, especially if you are playing in lower stakes games.

You should always fold if you have a bad hand, regardless of what other players are doing. It is much better to bow out of a hand than to play it out, and you will save yourself a lot of chips in the process.

It is also a good idea to learn how to read other people’s behavior. Look at their eyes, their hand gestures and how often they make large raises. This will help you predict their hand and give you an advantage over other players.

When you play in a lower stakes game, it is important to not get too attached to good hands, because they are not the ones that will win the biggest amount of money. For example, pocket kings can be a very strong hand if the board is full of flush cards or straights. But a ace on the flop can spell doom for them.

In addition, it is a good idea to remember that poker is not about winning as much as it is about playing the best relative hand. The best hand may not necessarily win the most money, but it is the one that will be played the best.