If you are new to poker, you may want to try watching some of the more experienced players. Observing their strategies can help you develop your own. The more you play the game, the better you will become. Also, you should observe the strategies that are working for others. You should also study their mistakes. Learning from the mistakes of others will help you improve your own poker strategy. This way, you can avoid committing the same mistakes as them.
In poker, players only place money in the pot voluntarily, unless they are trying to bluff another player. Since the outcome of poker is influenced greatly by chance, players tend to make decisions based on game theory, psychology, and probability. For example, if you have a pair of kings, you should not bet all your money into the pot. Instead, you should check. Then, you should call if you owe money to the pot.
During the betting interval, players are required to contribute an ante before the hand is dealt. This gives the pot an initial value. In some variations of poker, the ante is optional, but is typically required. During each betting interval, players are required to place chips equal to the total contributions of the player before them. If you are an active player, you should place your ante into the pot. There are betting intervals in a typical poker game.