Poker is a card game where the players place chips (representing money) into a pot, which is then shared by the players who have the best poker hand. The goal is to extract as much value as possible from winning hands and minimise losses when you have a losing one. This is called “MinMax”.

Poker requires calculation and logic, so playing it can make you a better decision-maker and more proficient at mental arithmetic. Moreover, it will teach you to stay patient in complex situations.

A good poker player needs to be able to read his or her opponents. This includes reading facial expressions, body language, and tells such as fiddling with chips or a ring. It also involves observing their mood shifts, eye movements, and how long it takes them to make decisions.

Position is important in poker because it gives you more information than your opponents and lets you make cheaper and more effective bluffs. In late position, you can play a wider range of hands than in early position because you have more bluff equity. Therefore, it is best to play as many pots in late position as possible. However, don’t overplay your hand because you will just be giving away your edge to other players. In addition to this, a good poker player must learn how to make quick instinctive decisions. This is achieved through self-examination and observation of experienced players. They then apply this knowledge to their own game.