Poker is a card game in which players place an initial amount of money into the pot (the forced bets called antes and blinds) before being dealt two cards each. They then combine these cards with five community cards to make the best possible hand. Players can call (match) a bet, raise it (bet more than the previous player), or fold (abandon their hand). Depending on the rules of the particular game, players can also draw replacement cards in order to improve their hand.
Understanding how to read your opponents is essential in poker. Whether they check, call, raise, or fold, every action your opponents take tells you something about their strength and weakness. The best way to start is by learning the basic rules of the game. Once you have that down, it’s time to move on to studying preflop betting patterns and starting to learn about pot odds.
Bluffs happen far less often than you might think from the way poker is portrayed on TV and by your friends, but they can still be a big part of your overall strategy. The key is to use bluffing strategically, and to be patient as you wait for the right opportunity.