Poker is a card game in which players place bets (in the form of chips) into a central pot. The aim is to have the highest ranked hand when the cards are shown at the end of the hand. The player with the highest ranked hand wins the pot. During a hand, players may make forced bets (in the form of an ante or blind bet) and/or voluntary bets. The latter are placed when a player believes that their bet will increase the likelihood of their own hand being the best, or for other strategic reasons.

The game of poker can be very addictive, so it’s important to know the rules and play the game correctly. There are many poker training sites and guides that you can use to improve your game. These resources can help you learn the basics of the game, as well as more advanced techniques.

Once each player has two hole cards, a round of betting begins. This is usually initiated by 2 mandatory bets called blinds placed into the pot by the players to the left of the dealer.

If it is your turn and you don’t have a good hand, then it’s often best to fold. This will allow you to save your chips for another hand and it will also prevent other players from raising on you if they have a strong hand. You can always re-raise later on, so don’t worry about folding early in the hand.