Poker is a card game played by two or more players. The game has many variations, but most forms involve betting and the object is to win a pot of money by having the highest-ranking hand. A bet is made voluntarily by the player, who may raise or call depending on the strength of their hand. Unlike most card games, poker involves more than just chance, with strategic decisions being based on probability, psychology and game theory.

One of the most important things to learn is the relationship between pot odds and your odds of winning a hand. This is especially important when playing at higher stakes, where a single bet can cost you more than your entire bankroll. In general, a bet must have positive expected value to be worthwhile, but this is difficult to achieve when you play against better players.

When you have a strong poker hand, it’s best to be aggressive in order to increase your chances of winning the pot. However, you should be careful not to get too greedy and make risky calls that could backfire. It’s also essential to watch other players’ actions and study their body language to understand how they make decisions.

There are a lot of books dedicated to poker strategy, but it’s also important to develop your own approach by studying other players’ moves and reading their tells. If you’re able to read other players, you can improve your own poker game by learning how to spot their weaknesses and exploit them.