Poker is a game of chance when there is no money at risk, but it becomes quite a bit more skill-based when there are bets involved. Regardless, it’s still a game of chance at its core and there are some basic tips to help you get started and improve your chances of winning.

First, it’s important to understand that poker is a card game where you’ll be competing against other players. You’ll need to understand their betting patterns and what they’re looking for in a hand. For example, aggressive players can be difficult to read since they are more likely to call high bets early in a hand. On the other hand, conservative players can be easy to read as they will generally fold a weak hand before seeing what others are holding.

Once a player has a pair or higher in their hand, they will need to analyze the board and determine the strength of their own. For this reason, it’s important to play in position as often as possible. By playing in position, you’ll be able to see your opponent’s actions before making your own decision, which can be critical to making more profitable decisions.

After analyzing the board, the player must then decide whether to call, raise or fold their cards. If they choose to raise, they’ll need to add more money into the pot. Once all the bets are made, the player with the highest hand wins the pot.