Poker is a game of chance, but there’s also a lot of skill involved. It can be a fun challenge to master, even for the most disciplined player. Developing the right mindset is essential for playing well. It means being willing to lose hands to bad luck, to make ill-advised calls or bluffs, and to take on the disappointment of losing a good hand after you’ve done everything correctly.

The first step in learning poker is understanding the rules. There are many different variations of the game, but the basics are pretty straightforward: Each player is dealt 2 cards face down. Once everyone has their cards, there is a round of betting that begins with the player to the left of the dealer. Each player can choose to “call” that bet by putting in the same amount of money, or raise their bet by increasing the number of chips they put into the pot. A player can also choose to “drop” their cards and drop out of the betting for that round.

The best players understand ranges – how likely an opponent is to have certain hands. This helps them work out the best strategy for playing against them. It’s important to know when to be cautious and fold, or to be aggressive and raise – the middle option of limping is rarely correct. It’s also important to be able to read an opponent and know whether to call or raise.