Poker is a card game that has a lot of skill to it. The best hands win the most money. There are a few basic rules to get started. First players must ante something (amount varies by game, ours is a nickel). Then the dealer deals everyone a hand of cards. Then they bet and the highest hand wins the pot.

A big part of the game is reading your opponents and understanding how to play against them. Some of this is physical tells, but a great deal of it is based on the context of your opponent’s cards. Your hand is good or bad only in relation to what your opponent has.

For example, say you deal yourself a pair of kings off the deal. They aren’t terrible, but they could easily lose to a hand like A-A on the flop. If you bet very small they may re-raise, and then you’ll be pot committed to a losing hand. If you bet very large, they might call with a mediocre hand and take their chances.

Taking your opponents down on their mistakes will hurt your ego, but it’s the best way to make the game profitable for you in the long run. It’s also why you should play only against people that you have a skill edge over, and stick with the game format and limits that fit you best. In the end, the only thing that matters is that you’re having fun and winning money consistently.