Poker is a card game played by two or more players. It is a game of skill and chance, where the player with the highest hand wins. In order to play the game you must be willing to take risks and bet large amounts of money. The goal of the game is to win more than you lose by raising your bets when you have a strong hand. This will push the weaker hands out of the pot and increase your chances of winning the showdown.

Once all the players have received their 2 hole cards, there will be a round of betting. This is initiated by the players to the left of you making a mandatory bet, called blinds, into the pot. Once the betting begins, you can decide whether to call, raise or fold your hand. For example, say you have a pair of kings off the deal, which are fairly good but not great. You check (this means you call when you don’t owe anything to the pot) and Charley calls, and Dennis raises.

One of the key elements to successful poker is being able to recognize and overcome cognitive biases that prevent you from making smart decisions. One of these is the fear of missing out or the desire to prove a hand’s strength. This is why it’s so important to learn to make well-timed folds. Doing so will protect your bankroll, minimize losses and increase long-term profitability.