Poker is a card game that involves betting and a certain amount of chance. But it is a lot of fun and if you play with the right group, a great social experience too.

The game is played from a standard pack of 52 cards and the highest hand wins. It has four suits, and the rank of each card is (from high to low) Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1. There are also wild cards that can take on any suit or rank, known as jokers.

In poker, each player acts in turn and places money into the pot (bet) by folding, calling, or raising a previous player’s bet. Each action gives away bits of information to your opponents and helps them build a story about you, sometimes revealing strength, and other times weakness. This is a key aspect of the game that is often overlooked by players.

The first step in improving your poker strategy is to understand how the different actions affect your chances of winning a hand. Then you can start adjusting your strategy to minimise losses and maximise winnings. Ultimately, this is what makes you a successful poker player.