A card game with a complex history, poker requires an element of luck to succeed. But the game also tests a player’s mental skills and teaches them how to read people. The best players know how to stay calm and focused under pressure, which can help them with their everyday lives too.

A key skill to learn is how to calculate odds. You need to work out the probability of a certain card coming up on the board, and compare it with the risk of raising your bet and how much money you could win. The more you play, the better at this type of quick maths you’ll become – which will improve your overall math abilities too.

The game also teaches you how to read body language at the table, picking up on tells and noticing the way an opponent handles their cards or moves around (if playing in person). This concentration is important because one miss can cost you a lot of money. Poker isn’t a game for people who want to run away after every bad beat – instead, it’s a test of resilience. If you can’t handle losing a few hands in a row, you won’t make it as a poker player.

If you want to add more chips to the pot, say “call” when it’s your turn to act. Then the other players can choose to call your bet or fold. If you’re not sure how to proceed, ask a more experienced poker player for help.