Poker is a card game in which players place bets on the strength of their hand. Those with superior hands win the pot. Players may also bluff, attempting to convince the other players that they have a better hand than they do.

The game has many variants, but most share certain features. Players each receive two cards, and then place an ante into the pot. Then a betting round takes place, with raising and re-raising allowed. Finally, the remaining cards are revealed and the player with the best five-card hand wins.

To be a good poker player you have to be able to read the other players and their betting habits. This will allow you to make better decisions at the table and maximise your winnings. You can do this by observing other experienced players at the table and imagining how you would react in their situation. The more you practice this, the quicker your instincts will become.

It is also important to know when to be aggressive in the game of poker. This is because if you are not aggressive, other players will take advantage of you and steal your money. Keeping a good balance between betting for value and bluffing will help you to achieve this. This is especially true when playing in late position, where you can control the action on later betting streets and manipulate the pot. Therefore, you should try to play a wider range of hands from late positions.