A game of Poker requires strategy and skill. It is not as luck-based as many people think. It is a game of bluffing, reading your opponents, and knowing when to take risks. If you are not comfortable taking risks, it is important to start off small and build up your comfort level.

Players trade money in for chips before the hand is dealt. The chips represent the amount of money that they are committing to the pot. Players can also swap these chips for real money at the end of the game.

To call a bet means to place into the pot the amount necessary to match the previous bets made for that betting round. If the player to your right bets $10, you would need to call their bet in order to stay in the hand.

When you “raise” a bet, it means that you want to increase the amount of money that you are putting into the pot. This lets the other players know that you have a good hand and are willing to put more money into it than them.

Poker is filled with catchy expressions, but perhaps none is more important than “Play the Player, Not Your Cards.” What this really means is that you must focus on what the other players are holding and how your hand compares to theirs. You must be aware of the tells that other players give off – unconscious, physical signs of how strong or weak their hand is – like rubbing their eyes or biting their nails.