Poker is a card game that involves betting and bluffing to win money. It is often played in tournaments or in cash games with a group of friends. It is a fast-paced game that has the potential to become quite intense.

When playing poker, it is important to remember that you are a human being, and emotions can affect your decision making. This is especially true in high stakes situations. A good way to prevent this from happening is to set a budget and stick to it. This will help you to avoid chasing your losses with foolish gameplay.

Besides the obvious factors like budget, it is also important to learn how to read your opponents. This is done by watching their body language and reading tells. Tells are not just the nervous gestures that you see in movies, but any sign that they are holding back or trying to hide their strength. For example, if they fiddle with their chips or look down at their shoes, this is often a sign that they have a strong hand.

More experienced players will use their knowledge of ranges to help them make decisions. Rangers are the range of possible cards that a player could have, and they use this information to make an educated decision about whether to call or raise. In general, it is better to bet aggressively than to limp, as this will allow you to get the most value out of your strong hands.