Poker is a card game where players place bets according to the strength of their hands. It is a game of skill and luck, and you can make money playing it, but only if you understand the rules and strategies of the game.

Start by learning the rules of poker and familiarizing yourself with betting rounds. It is also important to study hand rankings and the hierarchy of poker hands. This will help you better evaluate your own hands and determine if they are strong enough to play.

Studying experienced players can help you learn from their mistakes and avoid common pitfalls in your own gameplay. You can also benefit from observing their successful moves and adapting them to your own strategy.

Another important aspect of poker is keeping your cards secret from other players. This means not letting other players see your cards and being careful not to give away any clues about the strength of your hand through body language or nervous habits like fidgeting with chips, rubbing your eyes, biting your nails, etc. Expert players are able to conceal these tells and keep their opponents guessing.

After you’ve received your starting cards (also known as hole cards) you’ll have the option to check (pass on placing a bet for that round), raise, or call. To call, you’ll need to put in a bet amount equal to or higher than the previous player’s bet. This is what allows you to stay in a hand with the potential of hitting your draw.