The game of poker is played with a dealer and one or more opponents. Players can fold, call, raise or check in turn. They can also bluff to make a hand or force weak hands to fold. The player with the highest hand wins the pot.

The key to poker is learning how to read your opponent. You can do this by watching their actions and reading their tells. A player’s tell can be anything from fiddling with their chips to a smile. They might also talk a lot in their betting, or they might play a particular way. The best players know how to read their opponents and can use this information to their advantage.

Another key element of the game is understanding ranges. While new players will try to put their opponent on a specific hand, more experienced players work out the range of hands that the opponent could have. This gives them a better idea of how likely it is that their hand beats the other’s.

Position has a significant effect on your starting hand range and strategy. Earlier positions risk more money than later ones because they have less information to work with. However, if you have a strong hand in late position you can often bet to price out the worse hands and win the pot.

Lastly, you should learn how to spot conservative players and aggressive players. Conservative players will usually only stay in a hand when their cards are good, while aggressive players will often bet high early in a hand.