Poker is a card game that can be played by two or more players. In nearly all forms of the game, each player places a number of chips (representing money) into a pot at the beginning of each betting interval. A player may win the pot by having the highest-ranking hand at the end of a betting round, or by making a bet that no other players call.

The players must also decide whether to fold, call or raise. To raise, a player must add more chips to the pot than the amount placed in by the previous player. In most cases, raising is done to scare off other players and prevent them from forming a good hand. It can also be used to bluff, or attempt to bluff other players out of the hand.

One of the keys to success in poker is learning to read your opponents. This is a skill that can be developed by studying body language, mood shifts, and other tells. Reading your opponents in poker is more specific than in other games, and is best practiced by watching how each player shuffles their cards, moves their hands and bets, and how they make decisions.

While it is important to understand the basic rules of poker, it is equally as important to develop a strategy that will allow you to beat your opponents. Taking the time to study your opponents and how to beat them will help you increase your winning percentage.