Poker is a card game in which players place bets against each other. The person with the highest-ranked hand wins the pot, or the total of all bets placed during a hand. While luck does play a role in poker, skillful players can significantly increase their expected winnings over the long run.

The first step in learning poker is to understand the rules and betting procedures of your chosen game. These vary between games, but the general principles remain the same. Players put up an ante, or a small amount of money before the deal begins, and can then choose whether to call a bet (match it) or raise it. If you decide to raise, other players can then choose to fold or call your new bet.

Another important poker tip is to study your opponents’ bet sizes, position and style. This will help you determine how strong your own hand is, and which hands to call or fold against. If you have a great hand, bet to make your opponent think you are bluffing, and hopefully they will fold.

Finally, remember to be patient and not get too excited about big wins or too down after a bad one. Even the best poker players in the world lose more than they win sometimes, but they never let it derail their confidence. Watch a video of Phil Ivey taking a bad beat and see how he reacts—it’s all about mental toughness!