In poker, as in life, you have to weigh your chances against the risks to maximise your profit. In poker, this means making the best decisions with your cards, and in life it means being confident enough to risk a little to achieve a lot (like putting in a strong job application).
In Poker, players each place an initial amount into the pot before the cards are dealt. These are called forced bets and come in the form of antes, blinds or bring-ins.
Once the cards are dealt, there is a round of betting starting with the player sitting in the first-to-act position (ie the player to the left of the button). Players can Call, Raise or Fold.
The flop is then dealt and another round of betting begins, with the player sitting in the first-to-act seat now raising or calling as appropriate.
If a player does not wish to raise his bet, he may Check instead (calling if the previous player raised, checking if no one has raised before him). This equalises his stake with the total amount already in the pot. If he wishes to remain in the hand, he must raise again.
Players are often tempted to play it safe by only playing strong hands and rarely bluffing, but this strategy is predictable to opponents and you will miss out on opportunities to make large gains by taking more risks with weaker hands. Moreover, by only playing the strongest hands, you are missing out on potential wins if your opponent hits a pair or a straight on the flop, turn or river.