Poker is a card game in which players wager money on the outcome of a hand according to a set of rules. Different games may vary in the number of cards dealt, whether the cards are face up or down, and the number of rounds of betting that are allowed. The game is played with a standard deck of 52 cards.

One of the keys to winning poker is learning about your opponents. This includes studying their tells, like eye movements and idiosyncrasies, as well as the behavior of other players at the table. For example, a player who calls every bet may be holding an impressive hand and is trying to make the rest of the field fear raising.

Another important aspect of the game is positioning. Playing in late positions gives you a better chance of manipulating the pot on later betting streets. It’s also a good idea to avoid calling re-raises with weak or marginal hands, as this is often a sign that an opponent is bluffing and is likely to have the best possible hand.

Lastly, you need to be comfortable taking risks. This is a skill that can be practiced in many areas, including poker. Just says she learned risk management as an options trader, and it has served her well in poker. She recommends starting small and focusing on building your comfort level by taking some risks early on, even though they will probably fail.