Poker is a card game where players place chips (representing money) into a pot and then bet on the outcome of their hands. The player with the best five-card hand wins. Players may also bluff, betting that they have the best hand when they do not.

The first round of betting in a poker hand starts when one player places an ante, which is the amount that he or she must put into the pot to be dealt in. After that, each player can either call or raise the bets made by other players.

Saying “call” means that you agree to match the last person’s bet by putting the same amount of money in the pot. It’s a good idea to stay within your bankroll so you don’t get tempted to make big bets that you can’t afford to lose.

After the first round of betting is complete, the dealer deals three cards face-up on the table that anyone can use — this is called the flop. You should try to push players with weaker hands out of the pot early so you can increase your chances of winning.

Some players are too cautious and only play the strongest hands, which limits their opportunities to win. But if you’re too careful, your opponents will know exactly what you have and can easily exploit your weakness with bluffs. Moreover, you’ll miss out on the chance to achieve your goals with a moderate risk that could yield a much larger reward.