Poker is a card game in which players bet chips (representing money) into the pot during each deal. The player with the highest-ranking hand at the end of the betting interval wins the pot. There are many different types of poker games, but they all share the same basic rules.

When you play poker, you must ante something (amount varies by game) to get your cards and place your bets. Then, when it’s your turn to bet, you can “call” a previous player’s bet or raise it. If you say “call,” you must place the same amount of money in the pot as the person before you. If you don’t want to call, you can fold.

It’s important to keep your emotions in check when you play poker. This will help you avoid making emotional mistakes that can hurt your chances of winning. You should also learn how to read other players’ reactions. For example, you should be able to identify aggressive players by their tendency to bet high early in the hand.

In poker, you’ll win some hands and lose others. Whether you’re playing for money or just for fun, it’s important to remember that your losses shouldn’t crush your confidence and your wins shouldn’t make you too confident. Keep in mind that even the best players in the world suffer bad beats sometimes. Just watch a video of Phil Ivey taking a bad beat to see what we mean.