Poker is a game where players bet against each other by placing chips into the pot. The game started in the 16th century with German card players who developed a similar game to the modern form of poker. The game is a skill-based game, and the more you play, the better you will become. The best way to learn poker is to practice and watch experienced players. This will help you develop good instincts.

When you play a hand, you should always be thinking of what cards your opponents might have. You can then make a decision on whether to fold, call, or raise. Each move should have a purpose, for example, raising could be to force out weak hands or to try to get value. When you raise, your opponent will probably call, so make sure that the reason you are raising is a strong one.

There are 169 different starting hands that you can be dealt (ignoring specific suit combinations). You should always aim to play the highest hands with your best chance of winning. This will often mean folding preflop when you don’t have a strong showing hand, such as a low kicker.