Poker is a card game that requires strategic thinking, reading your opponents, and planning. If you’re new to the game, it’s best to play low stakes at first so that you can get experience without risking a lot of money. You should also spend time learning about the basic rules and hand rankings, as well as understanding how position at the table can affect which hands you play with.

If you want to raise the amount of your bet, say “raise.” The players who were in the pot before you will either call your raise or fold. A player who is called must match your bet if you decide to continue betting. If he does not wish to call, he may stay out of the pot by saying “fold.” The player who has the best five-card combination wins the pot.

Generally speaking, you should be folding or raising rather than limping when you’re out of position. By limping, you’re giving your opponent a clear indication that your hand is weak, which can lead them to try to exploit you by playing back at you.

A good poker strategy will also include a variety of different moves, so that your opponents can’t figure out what you have. If they know what you’re holding, it will be easy for them to call your bluffs. If you’re not mixing things up, your opponents will always know what you have and you won’t win as often.