Poker is a card game where players place bets in the center of the table (called the pot) to make a hand. The highest hand wins. There are several types of hands in poker, including a straight, a flush, and a three-of-a-kind. The best hand is a royal flush, which contains all of the high cards.

To be a good poker player, you must have several skills. First, you need to have discipline and perseverance. This will help you to play smartly and avoid making bad decisions. You also need to be able to focus on the game and keep your emotions in check. Finally, you need to be able to calculate pot odds and percentages.

A good poker player has a variety of strategies that they use to win. These include calculating pot odds, reading other players, and adapting to the game. They also have the patience to wait for optimal hands and proper position. They know when to fold and are aware of the long-term expectations of each hand.

The most important thing is to find a group of people who are interested in playing poker. Once you have a group, you should start by asking them to invite anyone they know who wants to join. Once you have a steady rotation of 6-12 players, it should be easy to schedule games with half a day notice via text.