Poker is a card game where you place chips in the pot for a chance to win more than you have invested. The game is based on luck and betting, with some strategic elements.

Poker teaches you how to think under pressure and makes you aware of how a risk-reward ratio can determine if a play is profitable. It also teaches you to be able to assess a situation with incomplete information, which is a critical skill in both life and business.

Saying “call” means you’re matching the previous bet and placing your chips into the pot. Depending on the rules, you can call during or after the flop, turn and river.

A royal flush consists of all five cards of the same suit. Four of a kind are three cards of one rank plus two of another, while a straight contains five consecutive cards of the same suit. Two pair consists of two cards of the same rank plus two unmatched cards, while high card is any other hand that doesn’t qualify as a flush, four of a kind or straight. High card is used to break ties.

Being a good poker player requires patience and a strong ability to handle failure. If you are unable to accept defeat and move on, you will struggle both at the tables and in other aspects of your life. A resilient attitude is critical for success in poker and other areas of life, such as being an entrepreneur or an athlete.