Poker is a card game played by two or more players and involves betting. The object of the game is to win the pot, which is the sum total of all bets made during a deal. A player can win the pot by having a high-ranking hand or by bluffing successfully.

Poker games are fast-paced and involve a lot of betting. In order to maximize your chances of winning, you must be able to read your opponents and know what to do in every situation. This is why it’s important to practice your decision-making skills and develop quick instincts.

The first step in improving your poker decisions is understanding ranges. While new players often try to put their opponent on a specific hand, experienced players will go through all of the possible hands that an opponent could have and work out how likely it is that they will hold one of those.

Another important factor in improving your poker decisions is knowing how to play your position. By playing your position intelligently, you can minimize the risk of being caught bluffing and get more value from strong hands. For example, if your opponent checks to you on the preflop, it is very unlikely that they will raise on the flop and this allows you to increase the size of the pot by betting. In addition, if your opponent calls the initial bet on the flop, they are less likely to call a larger bet on the turn and this will also allow you to maximize your value from your strong hands.