Poker is a card game that involves betting between players. Each player makes a bet into the pot (the middle of the table) before they are dealt two cards. The highest hand wins the pot.
The game has many variations, each with different rules for betting and how the highest hand is determined. Some games award the pot to the highest ranked hand only, while others use a combination of ranks and suits. In most poker games the highest pair or higher breaks ties, but some allow high cards to break ties as well.
One of the most important aspects of winning in poker is to minimise losses when you have a losing hand. You can do this by playing tight starting hands, and by bluffing with weaker hands.
In addition, the position you play from determines how much risk you take. The earlier your position, the more you have to risk. Players in early positions like the SB and BB have to act first, meaning they have less information than players later on. Their actions say a lot about the strength of their hands, so you can use this to your advantage by making calculated calls and raises.
Poker is a game of storytelling, and every action you make tells a story to your opponents. Your folds, calls, checks, and raises communicate bits of information that your opponents can use to build a picture of you. In turn, you can use your opponent’s stories to your advantage.