Poker is a card game played between two or more players. Each player puts up a stake (called an ante) before they get dealt cards. They then make bets into the pot during the hand, which ends when someone has a winning poker hand. Players must be careful not to overbet, which can cause them to lose the rest of their money.

One of the most valuable skills poker teaches is how to read people. This skill applies not only to the game of poker, but to any situation in life where you need to pick up on subtle cues. In poker, it means noticing when your opponent is nervous or bluffing. In other situations, it might mean reading body language to determine whether or not someone is lying.

Another important skill poker teaches is how to make good decisions. This can be applied to many aspects of life, from making a decision about which restaurant to dine at to deciding how much to contribute to an emergency fund. Poker also teaches you how to analyze a hand and decide whether or not it is worth calling a bet.

Finally, poker teaches you how to be disciplined. It is easy to be tempted to call every bet in hopes of hitting a big draw, but this can quickly drain your bankroll. Poker improves your discipline by teaching you to think before you act, and to avoid rash decisions that could come back to haunt you later.