Poker is a card game played by 2 or more players and involves betting. Players place mandatory bets (representing money) into the pot before the cards are dealt. These bets are called antes, blinds or bring-ins. After the cards are dealt, there is a round of betting that begins with the player on the left of the dealer.
To succeed at poker, you need to have a lot of patience. You will have to suffer through bad beats and make costly mistakes – this is part of the game. If you can stick to your strategy and not get discouraged, you will eventually see the results you want. One of the best ways to develop this patience is by watching videos of famous players such as Phil Ivey and paying close attention to how he reacts to bad beats.
Another important element of the game is bluffing. This can be a great way to manipulate your opponents and win the game. However, you need to be careful not to bluff too much and risk losing money. The goal should be to bluff only when you have a strong hand and you expect your opponents to call.
You should also play your strong value hands as straightforwardly as possible and not be afraid to raise a lot with them. This will force your opponents to either call or fold and will give you a better chance of winning the hand.