Poker is a game of chance, but it also requires a good deal of skill and psychology. Beginners tend to act on their gut feelings, but advanced players are able to put more money into the pot when they have a high probability hand or can make their opponent believe that they have a weaker one. These decisions are made on the basis of probability, psychology and game theory.

The first thing to learn about poker is understanding the basic rules. Once you understand starting hands and position, the rest of the game begins to make sense.

When you are dealt 2 cards in the first round of betting, you have a choice to stay, hit, or fold. You should only stay if you have premium hands like pocket pairs, high-card combinations or suited connectors. Beginners should stick to these premium hands because they have a higher chance of winning and are easier to play with limited experience.

Once the flop is dealt, the dealer puts three cards on the table that everyone can use (these are called community cards). If you have a strong hand and want to continue betting, you should raise your bet. This will build the pot and discourage other players from calling you with their weaker hands because they won’t have much bluffing equity against your bet.