Poker is a card game in which players place chips or cash into a pot before betting. The player with the best 5-card hand wins all of the money in the pot. Often there is a tie among players with the best hand, in which case the money is split between them. Typically, there are several rounds of betting before the last card is dealt face up – this is called the river.

During each round of betting, players can say “call” if they want to bet the same amount as the last person. They can also say “raise” if they wish to raise the previous person’s bet. They can also check (place a bet without showing their cards).

A good strategy is to start with a strong hand in late position and call re-raises from early positions, as this will force weaker hands out of the pot. It is also important to avoid calling re-raises with weak or marginal hands, as this will give your opponents the opportunity to steal your hand.

One of the most important aspects of poker is learning to read your opponents and understand their tendencies. This is done by observing them play and reading their body language. Another important aspect is knowing when to bluff. A good bluff can win you the pot if your opponent is not paying attention to the odds of your hand. You can practice bluffing by placing fake bets at the table and seeing how your opponents react.