A card game of chance and strategy, poker has gained worldwide popularity. Often referred to as the ‘mental game of the 21st century’, poker is a great way to test your mental abilities while having fun with friends or family.

Before each hand, all players ante a small amount of money (the exact amount depends on the game but is usually around a nickel) and are then dealt cards in clockwise order. Throughout the course of a hand, players may call, raise or fold their hands. Typically, the highest hand wins the pot.

There are many different strategies that can be employed while playing poker, but it’s important to remember that you will likely make mistakes. Even the most experienced players will sometimes misplay a hand and end up losing big. It’s all a part of the learning process and the best thing you can do is embrace these mistakes and continue to improve your poker skills.

When you start to learn poker, it’s a good idea to read up on the rules and basic terminology. This will help you understand the game better and give you a solid foundation to build upon. A few terms to familiarize yourself with include:

Betting – if nobody has raised before you, it is your choice to either call or raise. If you call, you will put in the same amount as the previous player – if you want to increase your bet, it is necessary to raise.

Position – the place you sit at the table will have a huge impact on your strategy. There are several types of positions at the poker table: early position, middle position and late position.

Bluffing – this is an integral part of poker but as a beginner, it’s probably best to stick to calling and raising for the first few hands. It’s hard to gauge relative hand strength as a newbie and it’s easy to get caught off guard by a good opponent.

A common mistake that beginners make is talking about their cards or the community cards to other players. This is considered a major breach of poker etiquette as it can affect play at the table and can reveal information about your opponents’ hands.