Poker is a card game in which players compete to form the highest ranking hand. It involves betting and the use of strategies based on probability, psychology, and game theory. It has been played for centuries and is widely regarded as a game of skill. Depending on the rules of the game, one or more players must place an initial amount into the pot before cards are dealt. These are called forced bets and come in the form of antes, blinds, or bring-ins.

After the flop, turn and river are dealt, players have the option to check (pass) or call (match the bet of the player to their left). A raise means that you want to increase your bet by a certain amount. You can only raise if you believe that your bet has a positive expected value or that it will cause your opponent to fold.

Top players fast-play their strong hands to build the pot, which can chase off other players waiting for a draw that can beat them. It is also a good way to get information about your opponent’s holding.

You can also read your opponents’ tells, which are nonverbal cues that show how much strength they have in their hand. Examples of tells include sighing, flaring nostrils, eyes blinking, and an increasing pulse seen in the neck or temple. A raised eyebrow is often a sign of strength, while a hand over the mouth and squinting eyes are signs that a player is bluffing.