Poker is a game of chance and psychology, but it also involves a lot of skill when you’re betting real money. In addition to the written rules, there are a few unwritten rules of poker etiquette that you should be aware of to keep your game running smoothly and fairly.

When playing poker, you’ll need to learn how to read your opponents, make wise decisions at the table, and practice good money management skills. You’ll also need to develop a strategy and continually refine it as you gain more experience. While there are many books that outline specific strategies, it’s important to find your own style by studying your results and analyzing your hand histories. It’s also a good idea to discuss your hands and strategy with other players for an objective outsider’s perspective.

Once you have a good grasp of the basic poker rules, it’s time to move on to more complicated game formats. The most popular poker games are Texas Hold’em and Omaha, but you can play many different variants of the game as well.

When it comes to betting, you’ll need to know how to say “call” and “raise.” Calling means that you’ll place a bet equal to the amount that the player before you raised. A raise means that you’ll add more money to the pot than your opponent did. To do this, you’ll need to say “raise” and then place your chips in the center of the circle.