Poker is a card game played by two or more players against each other. Each player starts with an amount of chips (also referred to as the pot), which they then use to bet against their opponents throughout the hand. The goal of the game is to make the best 5 card “hand” using your own 2 cards and the community cards. You can also win the pot by bluffing, if you have good bluffing skills.

The rules of poker are fairly simple. Each player is dealt two cards and then the betting begins. The first player to act has the option of calling, raising or folding their hand. If they fold, they forfeit any money they’ve already put into the pot. If they call, they must match the highest bet made so far in that round. If they raise the previous high bet, this is called a “re-raise”.

The game of poker requires discipline and thinking long term. It also teaches you how to control your emotions, especially in stressful situations. This can be a very beneficial skill to have in life, as unfiltered expressions of emotion can sometimes have negative consequences. Poker also teaches patience, which is another important skill for life in general. Having patience allows you to make better decisions when it matters most, which is key to a good poker game. Keeping a strategy journal is also very helpful, as it helps you memorize and internalize the calculations that will ultimately help you play better poker.