Poker is a card game where players place chips (representing money) into a pot to compete for a winning hand. The rules of poker vary by game variant, but all games involve betting and the winner is determined by whoever has the best hand after the cards are revealed. Winning hands include pairs, straights, flushes, and straight-flushes. Players may also win by bluffing, which involves betting that they have a better hand than they do and convincing other players to call their bets.

Unlike other card games, where the result of a hand is largely dependent on luck, poker involves decisions made by players on the basis of probability, psychology, and game theory. Each player must decide whether to call a bet with a strong value hand, fold a weak one, or bluff. Players can also improve their chances of winning by learning to read other players’ actions. For example, if an opponent’s face becomes flushed or they swallow excessively, it is likely that they have a strong hand.

Players can also influence the outcome of a hand by adjusting their actions on later betting streets, based on the risk-reward ratio. This is especially important in no-limit poker, where each bet can have a significant impact on the overall value of the pot. In particular, it is important to bet with strong value hands and to avoid calling re-raises with weak or marginal hands. In addition, it is a good idea to use a range of bluffing strategies and to take into account the opponents’ recent history when making bluffs.