The game of poker, which is played with a standard deck of 52 cards, is a game of chance and skill. While the outcome of any individual hand significantly involves luck, the long-term expectations of players are primarily determined by actions chosen on the basis of probability, psychology and game theory.

Before the deal begins, players must put in their ante, or “put in” an amount of money that is required to be dealt a hand. During the course of a hand, players can raise (increase their bet) or call (match the previous player’s bet). Depending on the rules of your game, you may also have the option to fold.

If you don’t like your cards, you can say “fold,” and the dealer will give you new ones. You can also say “hit” to add another card to your hand, or “stay” if you want to keep the same number of cards.

It is important to determine the size of your bankroll based on your financial situation and poker goals, and your tolerance for variance and downswings. Having a good bankroll allows you to play the games you enjoy, while still having enough funds to weather a downswing or two.

It’s important to be able to read your opponents, or at least know what they are likely doing. A lot of poker reads are not subtle physical tells, but rather patterns in betting behavior. For example, if someone is calling every bet then they probably are not playing a lot of weak hands and are bluffing when they have strong ones.