Poker is a card game played by two or more players and involves betting. It is often seen as a game of chance, but when money is at risk it becomes a game involving skill and psychology (though this isn’t to say there isn’t still a large element of luck). Poker is typically played from a standard deck of 52 cards (some games use multiple packs or add extra cards such as jokers), with four suits – spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs.

In poker, the player with the best hand wins the pot – the amount of money bet by everyone else in that round. To begin a hand, the players must place forced bets (called the ante and the blind bet). The dealer then shuffles the cards and the player to their right cuts. Each player then receives five cards and the first to reveal a hand wins the pot.

If you have a strong value hand, it is generally best to bet and raise a lot. This will make your opponents think you’re bluffing and will also encourage them to overthink their hands, leading them to make incorrect assumptions and call your bets. This strategy is known as MinMax – minimise losses and maximise winning hands.

Similarly to life, sometimes you will lose some chips in poker, but you should always play within your bankroll and be prepared to accept defeat. This way you’ll be less likely to chase losses, which will only lead to more substantial losses and put your bankroll at greater risk.