Poker is a card game in which players make bets and then reveal their cards. The player with the highest-ranking hand wins. It is usually played with a minimum of six players. The object is to win the pot, which is the total amount of money bet during a deal. Players can fold, call (match the last player’s bet), or raise (put more money into the pot).

In addition to being a card game, Poker is also a game of strategy and psychology. Because players cannot see each other’s hands, they are working with incomplete information and must make decisions based on the clues their opponents are giving them. These clues can be as subtle as a change in posture or as obvious as a gesture.

New poker players often feel afraid to play trashy hands, but this is a mistake. A good bluff can turn a weak hand into a monster on the flop.

Every action a player takes, whether it’s to fold, call, check, or raise, gives the other players bits of information that they use to build a story about him. Some of these stories are about strength and others are about weakness. Choosing which story to tell and when to do it is both an art and a science. It requires discipline to stick to best practices, but it also demands the skill to adjust your play style on the fly. If you always play it safe, you’ll miss out on great opportunities to win big.