While some people believe that folding a hand is a sign of weakness, it’s actually a strategic move that protects your bankroll and minimizes losses. Learn to make well-timed folds through consistent practice and study. This will improve your decision-making skills and help you fill any gaps in your knowledge.

The game starts with a small amount of money, called the ante, that all players must put up before being dealt cards. Then, the players can check, raise, or call. The person who puts the most money in the pot is the winner of the round.

Position is another important factor in poker. If you’re first to act, then your opponents have more information about how strong your hand is, and might be able to bluff at you. On the other hand, if you’re last to act, then you can raise more easily, and possibly steal blind bets from players who are more conservative in their betting.

A good poker player should also know the odds of a specific card appearing in their hand. This helps them calculate how much to bet and when. For example, if there are 8 spades in a deck of 52 cards and you have two of them, then the probability that the next card will be a spade is 1 / 8.

If you think you have a weak hand, it’s always better to fold than to keep throwing your money at a dead-end hand. It’s also a good idea to play with a smaller stake than you can afford to lose when you’re learning the game.