Poker is a card game in which players compete to form the best hand according to the rules. During each betting round, players can fold (leave the hand), call (match a previous player’s bet), and raise (bet more than the previous player). The highest ranking hand wins the pot at the end of the hand.

The first step to becoming a better poker player is learning the basic rules. Once you know the rules, familiarize yourself with the betting rounds and structure of the game. Next, learn the basics of poker hand rankings. You should also read a few foundational poker books to get a deeper understanding of the game.

Another important aspect of poker is learning to read your opponents. Since you can’t see your opponent’s cards, you must make decisions based on incomplete information. Each action you take, whether to fold, call or raise, gives your opponents bits of information that they can piece together to build a story about you.

When reading your opponents, it’s important to understand the concept of ranges. Instead of trying to put your opponent on a specific hand, more experienced players try to work out the range of hands that they could have. By doing this, they can make more informed decisions about how to play their hand. This is an important skill to develop because it will help you make more profitable calls than your opponents. In the long run, this is what separates the pros from the amateurs.