Poker is a card game that involves betting between two or more players. Each player places his or her bet into the pot voluntarily, either because they believe that their hand has positive expected value, or to try to bluff other players for various strategic reasons. In the long run, the winning hand is determined by a combination of probability, psychology, and game theory.

The goal is to win the pot, which consists of all bets made during one deal. This may be done by having the highest poker hand, or by raising bets that no other player calls. In some forms of the game, the amount of money in the pot is limited (such as with fixed limit or no-limit), while in others it is unlimited, as in pot-limit games.

There are a number of strategies that can be used to improve the chances of winning poker hands. The most basic strategy is to call raises only when you have a strong value hand, and to fold when you don’t. Another important strategy is to play a larger range of hands in late positions, where you can control the pot on later betting streets. Finally, it is important to use push-fold charts, which are solved ranges that help you determine whether or not to play a hand.

You dealt yourself a pair of kings off the deal, which aren’t bad, but not great. Then the betting starts: Alex checks, Charley calls, and Dennis raises a dime.