A poker game is played between two or more players and involves betting into a pot in the center of the table. The player with the highest hand wins the pot. Players must ante something (amount varies by game) to get dealt cards and then place bets into the pot in a clockwise order. When betting gets around to you and someone raises, you can choose to either call their bet or fold.

Folding isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s an essential part of a sound strategy that can protect your bankroll, minimize losses, and increase overall profitability. Recognizing the optimal moments to fold is a key skill that sets apart the best players from those who rely on reactive moves alone.

The more experience you have at poker, the better you’ll be able to read your opponents. For example, when an opponent checks quickly, it usually means they have a weak hand. However, if they take a long time to check or make a bet, it’s often a sign that they have a strong hand and are trying to figure out how much to bet to maximize their winnings.

Another important skill to develop is your understanding of ranges. A range is the range of possible hands that an opponent could have and how likely it is that your hand will beat theirs. Inexperienced players try to put an opponent on a specific hand while more experienced players work out their ranges and make decisions based on that information.