Poker is a game of luck, but it also requires some degree of mental toughness. Watch videos of Phil Ivey taking bad beats; he doesn’t let them crush his confidence. This is why he’s one of the world’s best players.
In the simplest form of poker, each player is dealt five cards. Each player then has the opportunity to make a poker hand, and the player with the highest hand wins the pot. The game may be played with any number of players, although six is the ideal number. In each betting interval (as defined by the rules of the specific poker variant being played), a player must either call the bet made by the player before him, raise it, or drop out of the pot altogether.
A smart player knows when to fold, but he also understands that calling a bet is not always the right move. He should instead raise to price out weaker hands, and only call if he believes that his own hand is good enough to win the pot.
The game is easy to learn, but the strategy takes time to develop. Many books have been written that offer specific strategies, but the most successful players develop their own unique approaches through detailed self-examination and by discussing their hands and playing styles with other poker players for a more objective look at their strengths and weaknesses. They constantly tweak their play to improve and stay ahead of the competition.