Poker is a game that requires skill, knowledge, and the ability to read other players’ betting behavior. It’s also a game that requires you to understand the different types of poker hands, and the importance of position.

Each player has a turn to bet (or raise) during each betting interval. A player who wants to stay in the hand must “call” the bet of the person before him (or her). By saying “I call,” you agree to match the previous player’s bet and place your chips or cash into the pot.

After the first round of betting is over the dealer deals three cards face up on the table. These are called the flop. The flop contains community cards that anyone can use to form a poker hand.

If you have a good poker hand, such as pocket kings or pocket queens, you should bet aggressively on the flop. But if you have an average or poor poker hand, you should check and fold. If you keep betting money at a bad poker hand, it will eventually cost you more than if you’d simply checked and folded.

It’s important to learn how to read the betting patterns of other players, especially when it’s not your turn to bet. Study the way they move their hands, the expressions on their faces, and their body language. You’ll soon discover the tells that will give you a clear advantage over the rest of the players at the poker table.