Poker is a card game that requires players to put a certain amount of chips into the pot each turn. Each player must either call that bet (put in the same number of chips as the player before them), raise it (put in more than the last player), or drop (fold). The highest hand wins the pot. The game is played with a standard deck of 52 cards, plus any wild cards that the game specifies (e.g. jokers).
In general, it is better to play your strong value hands as aggressively as possible rather than trying to outsmart opponents. Top players fast-play their hands because they want to build the pot and chase off any opponents waiting for a draw that can beat them.
Position is also important in poker. Players in early position should usually be cautious and fold a lot, while players in late position should raise more often to price worse hands out of the pot. In general, it is good to raise when your opponent checks as they don’t know how many calls you will make and this can put more pressure on them to open their own hand.
Another way to improve your poker strategy is by talking through difficult spots with winning players in your local community or online. Find players who are winning at the stakes you are playing and start a group chat or meet up weekly to discuss hands.