Poker is a game of chance and skill, but it also has a significant element of risk. Regardless of the type of poker you play, there is always some chance that you will lose money. However, a well-played hand can make a big difference in your overall outcome.
Each betting interval (called a round) begins with a player making a bet of one or more chips into the pot. If another player chooses to call that bet, they must put the same number of chips into the pot as the player who made the bet. Players can also raise that bet, which means they increase the amount of chips that they are putting into the pot. They can also “drop” (fold), which means that they will not continue betting on their current hand.
The key to success in poker is knowing what hands you can continue with and when it is appropriate to raise for value. Many new players misevaluate these thresholds and often overvalue medium strength hands. This leads to them playing too cautiously and missing out on opportunities where a moderate amount of risk could yield a big reward.