The game of poker has a lot of psychology and skill involved, but it’s also a game of chance. If you are new to the game it’s a good idea to start at lower stakes, which will minimize financial risk and allow you to experiment with different strategies without too much pressure.

When it’s your turn to act, you can choose to fold, call (match the previous player’s bet), or raise. A player who calls must put in the same number of chips into the pot as the player to their left. A player who raises must put in more than the amount raised by the preceding player. A player who folds puts no chips into the pot and is out of the hand until the next deal.

One of the best ways to improve your poker game is to study the games of experienced players. By analyzing the way that they play, you can learn from their mistakes and see what aspects of their strategy you can incorporate into your own play.

Another great way to improve your poker skills is by reading books on the subject. These books will give you a solid foundation on the rules of the game and will teach you the theory behind different strategies. There are many excellent poker books on the market. Some even feature video clips of real-life poker games so that you can see the rules in action. Watching the video clips will help you to understand the game better and will make it easier to learn when you’re actually playing the game.