The game of poker is a card game that has captivated millions of players around the world. It is a game of chance that requires some skill and observation to play effectively. A good player will be able to read other players and their tells, which are unconscious habits or gestures that reveal information about the player’s hand. These can include eye movements, idiosyncrasies, hand gestures, and betting behavior.

To begin playing poker, the player must place a forced bet (often an ante or blind bet) and then the dealer shuffles and deals cards to each player. The dealer button (a plastic disk that rotates among the players to indicate a nominal “dealer”) indicates who should act first in each betting round.

Once all the bets are made, each player shows their cards and the best poker hand wins the pot. If a player has an unbeatable hand, they must bet enough to force the other players into folding, or “calling.”

Getting more aggressive in poker can increase your win-rate, but it’s important to do so in the right situations. There are four common situations in which turning up the aggression will boost your bottom line.