A card game whose variants have made it one of the most popular games in the world, poker is played by two or more players and involves betting. A hand of five cards is ranked in inverse proportion to its mathematical frequency; higher hands are more valuable. Players may choose to call a bet (match it) or to bluff, betting that they have a superior hand. The other players must then either call the bet or fold.

Before the ‘Moneymaker Boom’ of 2004, there was a limited number of poker forums worth reading and a small handful of poker books that deserved a read. Now, the learning landscape is completely different: there are countless poker forums, a seemingly endless selection of poker software and programs to help you improve your game, and a huge number of books on the subject.

The best way to learn the game is to play it frequently and to keep your focus in the moment. Avoid distractions, especially from music and the internet, and try to dedicate at least two hours a week to your game. If you want to take it a step further, invest in stat collecting software such as PokerTracker or HoldemManager; this will give you an invaluable insight into your strengths and weaknesses. It is also a good idea to sign up for a poker forum, such as twoplustwo, where you can ask questions and discuss other people’s hands and strategies.