Poker is a card game played between two or more players and can be found in casinos around the world. It is a game of chance, strategy, and reading body language. It is also a great way to build your resilience and learn how to deal with failure. Learning how to take a loss and turn it into a lesson is an invaluable skill that will benefit you outside of the poker table.
Advanced poker players focus on an opponent’s range, which includes everything from a full house to a flush. They will also try to understand what hand their opponent has and what they may be trying to accomplish by betting. For example, if you have a high hand and an opponent raises, it’s likely that they are aiming to take down the pot.
The game was originally popular in the American South and Midwest, where it was often played by crews of riverboats transporting goods up the Mississippi River. After the Civil War, it was picked up by troops heading west, and soon it was a staple of Wild West saloons. The game is now a popular pastime and hobby worldwide, with many different variants and rules.