Poker is a card game played by two or more players. The object of the game is to win the pot, which is the sum of all bets made during a deal. The winner may be determined by a high hand, or by making a bet that no other player calls. The game can be played with as few as 2 players, but it is most often played with 6 to 8 players.

The rules of poker differ between games, but the general principle is that each betting interval (or round) begins when one player makes a bet of a certain amount. Each player in turn must either call that bet, raise it or drop out of the pot. A player who drops out loses the chips that he has put into the pot.

When deciding whether to call or raise, you should consider your opponent’s range of hands. You can find out what their range is by studying previous hands they’ve played. In addition to this, you should study the way they play in each situation.

Lastly, you should always play only with money that you are willing to lose. You should also keep track of your wins and losses to determine whether you are winning or losing. This way you can make adjustments to your strategy based on the results. This will help you improve your game.