Poker is a card game played by two or more players. It requires a combination of luck and skill to win. The more you play, the better you become. This will increase your chance of winning, as long as you stick to a well-defined plan.

To bet in a poker hand, you place chips (or cash) into the pot when it’s your turn. Say “call” to match the last player’s bet, or “raise” to add more money to the pot. The other players can choose to call or raise you in turn.

While it’s important to be aggressive when you have a strong hand, don’t over-bet. If you bet too much, you may scare off other players who could have made a good hand.

One of the most important things to learn about poker is how to read other players. Pay attention to how often they bet and whether they are checking their cards. This information can help you decide if they have a strong or weak holding. You should also try to play against the strongest players at your table. They will be able to make you pay for calling too many hands, and they may even bluff at times, so be prepared. This will improve your game over time, and you will become more accustomed to math concepts like frequencies and EV estimation. You can also improve your mental poker game by learning how to think about the long-term and to practice self control in stressful situations.