Poker is a card game in which players independently try to assemble the best possible hand of cards, traditionally for cash or poker chips. The player who has the highest-ranking hand at the end of the betting round wins the pot, which is the total amount of money bet by all players.
The basic rules of poker are simple: Each player is dealt 2 hole cards, and a round of betting begins after the flop (the first three community cards). You can call or raise the previous player’s bet, and there are usually additional rounds after the flop and the turn (the fourth community card).
A good poker player needs several skills to succeed. Discipline and perseverance are critical, as is a strong understanding of bet sizes and position. But perhaps the most important skill is learning how to avoid fundamental errors that can sabotage your win rate. These errors aren’t necessarily easy to spot, especially in low stakes games, but they are surprisingly common and very costly.