Poker is a card game that involves betting and raising your stakes in order to win the pot (the total amount of money bet during a round). Each player puts up two small bets before being dealt their cards, which are called the small blind and the big blind. This creates a pot immediately and encourages competition. The person with the best hand wins the pot.

To play poker successfully, you need a balanced approach that combines sound strategy and well-timed tactics. This is what separates the pros from casual players. Those who only focus on reactive moves will eventually lose.

The first step is to understand how hands rank. You can find this by studying a chart that shows you what hands beat what, for example, a flush beats a straight and three of a kind beats two pair. Then you must practice a lot to get the hang of the game and memorize the charts.

It is also important to learn how position affects your starting hand range and strategy. Those in early positions risk more money and are at a disadvantage because they are working with incomplete information. However, those in late position have the advantage of having more time to gather information before making a decision.

Another thing to consider is how fast you can play your strong hands. Top players are able to speed up the action, which builds the pot and chases off opponents waiting for their turn to act.