Poker is a card game where players bet and raise funds (chips that represent money, for which the game is almost always played) to try to form the best possible five-card hand. The highest-ranking hand wins the pot at the end of each betting interval.
When a player has a strong poker hand, it is important to be aggressive in order to make the pot larger and win more money. However, it is equally important to know when to be cautious. For example, if you have pocket kings on the flop and there are lots of flush cards on the board, it may be a good idea to fold.
Each poker game begins with each player buying in for a specific amount of chips. Then, one player, as designated by the rules of the game being played, has the privilege or obligation to place his chips into the pot before any other player can bet again.
After the initial forced bets, each player voluntarily puts his chips into the pot whenever he believes his action will have positive expected value. These decisions are made on the basis of mathematical and psychological principles. It is the combination of these factors that ultimately determines whether a player makes money in poker over the months and years that he plays it.