Poker is a card game with a lot of skill and psychology involved. When you add betting, it becomes even more complex. It’s a great way to learn how to read people, and teaches you to think under uncertainty. In the real world, deciding under uncertainty is a big part of life and you can use what you’ve learned in poker to help with your career or other activities like investing.
To start playing poker, you need a group of friends and a place to play (home games work best). You also want to find a professional who can mentor you. There are plenty of coaches out there, so finding one that you connect with is essential. You’ll also want to play at low stakes and observe other players, especially newbies. This will give you the confidence to open your hand ranges and mix up your strategy as you gain experience.
After you’ve played a few hands, you’ll be ready to move on to higher stakes and see how you fare. When it’s your turn to act, you can say “call” if you want to make the same amount of money as the person to your right, or you can raise by adding more money than their bet. If you raise, your opponents will have to call or fold their hand. If you have the highest hand, you win the pot. If you don’t have a high hand, the dealer wins.