Poker is a card game in which players place chips (representing money) into the pot by betting on their respective hands. The goal of the game is to create a five-card hand that ranks higher than any of the other players’ hands. The highest ranking hand is a Royal flush, which includes a King, Queen, Jack, and Ace of the same suit in one hand.

The first step to becoming a good poker player is to understand the difference between strategy and tactics. While many new players focus on perfecting their tactics, such as when to bluff or fold, the truly successful players know that these tactical decisions are only part of the overall strategy.

While new players often have tunnel vision and can’t see what their opponents are holding, top players look at the range of hands that the other player could be holding. This allows them to calculate how likely it is that the other player will have a hand that beats theirs, and then work out whether calling is the best option.

To improve your poker skills, practice and watch other experienced players. Observe how they play, and try to emulate their actions. This will help you develop quick instincts. It’s also a great way to learn how to read other players’ tells. These are not only the obvious signals, such as fiddling with their chips or putting on a poker face, but can also be more subtle, such as the speed at which a player calls.