Poker is a card game, but when players start betting it becomes much more than just a game of chance. A lot of skill and psychology is involved.

A poker hand consists of 5 cards and is split into different categories: high hand, low hand, pair, three of a kind, straight and flush. Each hand is given a number of points based on the rank of the cards in them. The highest point-scoring hands win. A high hand is made up of five consecutive cards from the same suit (e.g. five aces, five queens).

To play poker you need to be able to read the other players at the table. This is especially important when playing in an online environment, where it can be harder to spot physical tells. Keeping a log of hands that you have played or that you have watched can help you to do this. Always have a reason for making a check, call, raise or fold; if you don’t you could get caught out and lose money.

In the early stages of a hand, it is usually wise to keep your bet size as low as possible and play for value. However, once you have a good hand it is often profitable to bet aggressively. This will make your opponent over-think and arrive at the wrong conclusions about you, which will enable you to take advantage of them. This strategy is known as “slow-playing.” You must also remember to capitalize on your opponents’ mistakes, such as chasing their ludicrous draws or calling their hero calls.