Poker is a card game played between players for an amount of money or chips contributed by the players themselves (called the pot). The goal is to form the best possible hand based on the cards dealt, to extract the most value from winning hands and minimise losses from losing ones. In order to maximise your winnings, you must be able to predict what your opponents have in their own hidden cards and how they will behave. This is called min-max or optimisation.

Poker requires a lot of focus and discipline. The main skills are: a sharp attention span, excellent decision-making and a firm belief in your own ability to play well. To develop these skills, you must also commit to smart game selection – playing only profitable games that fit your bankroll and skill level.

It is a good idea to spend time learning the rules of the game, as well as learning the different strategies that exist. Beginners should focus on a conservative strategy that only plays strong hands aggressively, while more experienced players can experiment with concepts such as 3-bets and semi-bluffing.

You should also learn about how your opponents play by watching them in person or using poker software. Observe their betting patterns and study how they move around the table. This way, you can develop an understanding of how to exploit their weaknesses.