Poker is a card game that involves betting. There are many different variations of the game, but all have the same objective: to make the best five card hand. Players put up an initial amount of money into the pot before they are dealt cards. These are called forced bets and come in the form of antes, blinds, or bring-ins. Once the forced bets are placed, a player can choose to call the current bet or fold his or her cards.

Before the cards are dealt, the player to the right of the button (the last person to act before the dealer) places a bet. If this bet is higher than the amount raised by the previous player, the other players can either match it (call) or raise it again (raise). If no one raises, the player can check to stay in the round or fold his or her cards.

Once the cards are dealt, each player takes a turn. The first action is to decide whether to call or raise the previous bet. Say “call” to place a bet equal to the previous player’s.

If you have a good hand, then you should consider raising the bet or calling the raise. However, if your hand is not very strong, then you should fold and wait for the next hand to play. It is important to remember that poker is a game of small edges and taking advantage of them can lead to a large profit over the long run.