Poker is a card game with a lot of skill and psychology. Even without betting, it is a complicated game that requires a lot of practice to learn how to read the other players at the table. However, with betting in place, it becomes a much more complex game that involves a lot of luck (even though bluffing is still very important).
At the beginning of each hand, one or more players are forced to make forced bets called “antes” or “blind bets.” The dealer then shuffles and deals the cards, starting with the player to their right. Players then form a hand based on the cards they have in their hand, and the highest-ranking hand wins the pot, which is the sum of all bets placed during that hand.
If your hand is not strong enough to raise, you can “check,” meaning that you will remain in the current hand without paying any more money into the pot. However, you will need to pay more if someone else raises on your turn.
Top players “fast-play” their strong hands, which means they bet early and often, trying to build the pot and chasing off opponents waiting for a worse hand. They also know how to “bluff” at the right times, which is not as simple as deciding whether or not to call someone else’s bet — it requires an evaluation of the player’s range, the size of the pot, and more.