Poker is a card game where players place bets against each other to build a pot (the sum of all the bets placed). The dealer shuffles and cuts the cards before dealing them out to each player, one at a time. Each player can then choose to call, raise or fold their cards. The highest hand wins the pot.

The best poker players have a few key traits: they know how to read other players, they can calculate pot odds and percentages, and they’re willing to adapt to different games. They’re also patient and can wait for good hands. If you’re not patient, you’ll get frustrated quickly and will never reach your potential as a poker player.

A good starting hand is a pair of kings, queens or jacks. If you don’t have a strong pair, then it’s better to fold. If you have a weak pair, then you can try to bluff and win a pot by calling the bets of others.

If you have two deuces, then the typical strategy is to hold on to them unless you have a high paying hand, such as Four of a Kind or a Straight Flush. You should also bet at every opportunity to force players to call your bets, especially when you have a strong hand, as this will increase the value of your pot.