Poker is a card game played by two or more players. There are many different forms of poker, but in all cases the object is to win the pot, which is the aggregate of all bets made during a deal. Depending on the rules of the game, one or more players must place an initial amount into the pot before the cards are dealt (called forced bets). These bets can be in the form of an ante, a blind bet, or a bring-in. Players then place bets in turns.
New players often make the mistake of limping, which means they put out a small bet with their hand without raising it. However, the best way to play a strong hand is to raise it. This builds the pot and discourages other players from calling. It also forces weaker hands out of the pot and increases your chances of winning.
Advanced players try to figure out the opponent’s range of hands and how they will play them. They also think about their own range of hands and how they will play them in specific situations. This way, they can maximize the number of chips they win and minimize their losses. They can do this by keeping a file of previous hands that they can use for practice. This file may include hands they have played, or it can be a collection of hands that have been written up by other authors.