Poker is a game of chance, but it also requires a certain amount of skill and psychology. There are many different ways to learn poker, but the best approach will depend on your learning style. Regardless of which method you choose, start with the basics: understanding starting hands and position.

When the cards are dealt, players take turns clockwise around the table revealing their hands. The player with the strongest hand wins the pot. After a player’s turn, they can either call or raise existing bets or fold (sliding their cards face down and not participating in the next round).

Each player has two personal cards in their hands and five community cards on the table. They can combine these to make a poker hand, which is ranked in order of strength from highest to lowest. Check out our full guide to poker hands to learn how to play them.

As you play, be sure to track your wins and losses. This will help you figure out whether you’re winning or losing in the long run. Also, only gamble with money you’re comfortable losing. If you lose more than you’re comfortable with, stop and come back later when your bankroll is larger.

It’s also helpful to understand probability and math when you’re playing poker. This will allow you to analyze your chances of getting a particular card, for example, knowing that there are 13 spades in a deck will help you decide if you should say “hit” or “stay” on a particular hand.