Poker is a game of chance mixed with skill, and the more you play, the better you’ll get. But it’s also a game of emotions and mistakes. Sometimes things will go terribly for you, but it’s your choice whether to let that ruin your whole session or learn from the mistake and move on.

Before you start playing poker, it’s important to understand how the game works and the basic rules. You’ll need to be able to read the odds, know what hands are the best, and how to make a good call. In addition, it’s important to be aware of how the table and other players are acting.

The game of poker has a lot of different variations, but they all share the same core elements. The game starts with the players being dealt cards, followed by betting rounds. After the betting is complete, the player with the best hand wins the pot.

There are a few important poker terms you should know before you begin to play:

Ante – the first amount of money that every player must put up to get into the hand. Call – To call someone’s bet means to match it and stay in the hand. Raise – To raise your own bet, either by matching or increasing the previous high bet is known as raising.

Position – The position of a player can have a huge impact on their EV (expected value). The closer to the dealer you are, the more information you have about your opponent and how likely they are to raise or re-raise.