Poker is a game of chance, but it also relies on skill and the ability to read your opponents. You need to weigh up your chances and decide whether a hand is worth playing, or whether it would be more profitable to call. If you don’t think a hand is strong enough, you should fold.

The game begins with 2 hole cards being dealt to each player. Then a round of betting starts. Players place mandatory bets into the pot (called blinds) before another card is dealt face up, this is called the flop. Then another round of betting starts, starting with the player to the left of the dealer.

Top players play their strong hands aggressively to build the pot, and potentially chase off other players who have draws that beat them. This is how they win most of their money.

A weaker hand should be played very conservatively, and you should only bluff if your opponent has a tight playing style. You should also pay attention to the size of your opponent’s stack – short-stacked players are more desperate to win and are easier to bluff against.