A card game played by two or more people, poker has many different rules and variations. It is usually played with chips and the object of the game is to win the pot, which is the total amount of bets made by all players in a single deal. A hand of five cards wins the pot if it contains a straight (a series of consecutive ranks that don’t matter if they’re from one or more suits), four of a kind, or a full house. A deuce (two of a kind) and an ace count as wild cards.

The first step in learning to play poker is to commit to playing smartly and making the best decisions possible. This means choosing the right games for your bankroll, limits, and skill level, and avoiding bad games where you will lose money. It also means learning how to read the other players at your table, watching their mood shifts and body language, and paying attention to details like how they handle their cards and chips.

It is also important to practice patience and discipline, and remember that luck will always play a role in poker. Good players know that they will win some and lose some, and they don’t get upset by bad beats. It’s helpful to watch videos of pros like Phil Ivey taking bad beats to learn how to keep your cool in stressful situations. If you can’t control your emotions, you won’t be able to make sound decisions at the tables.