Poker is a card game played by two or more players in which each player makes a hand based on the cards they have and bets against others. The aim is to win the pot, which is the sum total of all bets made during a hand. This can be done by having the highest ranking hand at the end of each betting round, or by raising other players to fold with a strong enough hand.

Initially, the game of poker can be confusing for beginners. The first step in learning poker is understanding the rules and basic terminology. This will include knowing what each type of hand is (e.g. a flush beats a straight, and three of a kind beats two pair). The next step is to study some charts that show the rankings of each type of hand. This will help you decide when to call and raise, and also which hands are better to play.

Another crucial element of poker is reading your opponents. This isn’t always through subtle physical tells, but more often through patterns. For example, if a player is folding early you can assume they are playing poor cards. Similarly, if a player is aggressive they are probably risk-takers and can be bluffed into folding by a stronger hand.

Finally, poker is a great way to learn how to manage your money and not overreact in bad sessions. This is a key skill that can be transferred to other areas of life and helps build resilience.