Poker is a card game in which players bet money (called chips) before and during each hand. When the hand is over, the player with the highest ranked hand wins the pot – the total of all bets made during that hand.

To begin playing poker, you must first understand how the game works. The best way to do this is by studying some charts that show what hands beat what. For example, a full house beats a straight and three of a kind beats two pair. Having this knowledge will help you make better decisions at the table.

You must also remember that poker is a game of deception. This means that if you play a balanced style, your opponents will have no idea what you have in your hand. This will make it much harder for them to call your bluffs, and you will win more often.

Another key thing to remember is that the law of averages dictates that most poker hands are losers, so it’s important to only play when you’re feeling good about yourself. This will help you perform at your peak, and prevent you from making bad decisions because of fatigue or frustration.

Finally, there are many catchy expressions in poker that you should keep in mind. One of the most popular is “Play the Player, Not the Cards.” What this means is that while you may have a great hand like pocket kings, it’s all relative to what your opponent has in his or her hand.