If you want to become a good poker player you need to know about the different types of hands and what beats what. This will give you a basic understanding of the game and help you decide when to raise, fold or call.

During the betting phase players place bets against each other. This is called the pot and can be made up of forced bets, known as antes or blinds, and brought-in bets. Players must place these bets before they see their cards.

Once all the players have a hand they can either stay in or call each other’s bets. If they stay in then their decision is to either hit or double up. They can only hit if they believe their cards are high in value. The dealer will then deal them another card.

A good poker player will also learn to read their opponents. This can be done in a variety of ways from subtle physical tells to observing patterns. For example, if someone folds their cards regularly then they probably have a weak hand. Similarly, if a player always bets then they will usually have a strong one.

The best way to learn poker is by playing the game and watching experienced players play. By doing this you will develop quick instincts and understand how the game works. The more you play and watch the better you will become at reading your opponent’s body language and changing your strategy accordingly.