Poker is a card game that involves betting and raising by players during the course of a hand. The object of the game is to win a pot, which is the sum total of all bets placed during a deal. Depending on the game, one or more initial forced bets are made by each player before cards are dealt. These bets may take the form of antes, blinds, or bring-ins. After the initial forced bets are made, additional chips can be voluntarily placed into the pot by players who either believe the bet has positive expected value or are trying to bluff other players for various strategic reasons.

While many amateur poker players try to outwit their opponents in an attempt to gain a competitive edge, this strategy can often backfire. Instead, you should play your strong value hands aggressively and let your opponents overthink their own decisions and arrive at the wrong conclusions.

When you are playing in EP, it is very important to play extremely tight and only open with the best hands. This will put maximum pressure on your opponents and force them to fold more often.

It is also crucial to know how to read the table and remember which cards have already been dealt. This way, you will be able to anticipate which cards other players might have in their hands and adjust your strategy accordingly. You should also try to get into the habit of calculating odds when you are in position. This will help you to make better decisions about when to call or raise a bet.