Poker is a card game that is played by 2 or more players on a table. Each player places an initial stake in the pot before the cards are dealt. These are called forced bets and come in the form of antes or blinds.

The players then examine their hands and place bets with chips to make a raise or call. The best hand wins the pot, which is the total of all bets made in a given round. The winner(s) are determined in a showdown after all the cards are revealed.

If you don’t have a strong enough hand to call, you can say “fold” and throw your cards away. This allows you to avoid giving your opponent information about your strength, which can hurt your bluffing.

Bluffing is a key skill in poker. However, many players don’t know how to bluff properly. They often give their opponents too much information by flipping over their cards and revealing the bluff, which can cause them to make incorrect assumptions about your strength.

To bluff successfully, you need to read your opponent’s body language and facial expressions. You also need to pay attention to how they handle their cards and chips, which can tell you a lot about their strength and intent. Another important skill is adaptability. Poker games can vary widely from one session to the next, and you need to adjust your strategy accordingly. For example, if you find yourself playing with aggressive players, you’ll need to be more confident in your bets.