Poker is a card game played by two or more people. Players are dealt two cards and have five community cards. The goal is to make the best five-card hand using these cards. Poker requires a lot of quick decision-making, as well as observing opponents, calculating probabilities, and managing emotions. Playing poker regularly can help to improve these skills and increase your overall decision-making ability.

One of the most important things to learn in poker is understanding the concept of ranges. Rather than trying to put an opponent on a specific hand, experienced players will work out the range of possible hands that they could have and then decide how likely it is that they have the best hand. This allows them to maximise the amount of money they can win from each hand.

Another important skill that you will learn from playing poker is how to read your opponents’ body language. This can be a great way to tell when someone is bluffing or if they are holding a strong hand. Developing this ability will enable you to make better decisions at the table and also help you to avoid making mistakes in future.

Poker is also a great way to develop your risk-taking abilities. As a skill-based game, it is not uncommon for people to lose money while playing poker, so it’s important to know how to manage your risks. For example, by never betting more than you can afford to lose and always knowing when to quit, you will minimize your losses.