Poker is a card game in which players place bets against each other based on probability and psychology. The game is played in betting intervals, with each player having the opportunity to raise or call a bet depending on their position. Players can also choose to pass on their turn and wait for the next player to act.
The game requires a lot of patience. There will be times when you lose a few hands, but the most successful players have short memories and move on quickly. They know that they need to keep improving to beat the fish and come out on top in the long run.
Another aspect of the game that is very important is learning how to read your opponents. It is crucial to be able to spot tells, such as when someone checks after you bluff, or when they re-raise after you check. You should also never show down your cards unless you have to, because it gives away free information that you can use against them in the future. Phil Ivey is an excellent example of this; watch videos of him in action and you will see him showing down his cards only when he has to.
Like business owners, poker players often make decisions under high-pressure situations where they lack critical information. They have learned to extract signal from noise, and integrate information from multiple channels to exploit their opponents and protect themselves.