Poker is a card game of chance, but it also requires strategic thinking and strong basic math skills. It’s a game that can be learned in a few months, depending on how much time you devote to it and whether you have a natural aptitude for card games. The best way to improve your poker strategy is to study and observe experienced players, who can show you how to play in a variety of situations.

When learning to play poker, it’s important to start at low stakes. This minimizes financial risk and allows you to experiment with strategies without feeling the pressure of losing money. Once you feel comfortable playing at lower stakes, you can move on to higher-stakes games and begin learning advanced concepts and poker lingo.

Before starting to play poker, it’s important to understand the basics of the game and hand rankings. This will help you make better decisions at the table and avoid making mistakes that could cost you a lot of money. It’s also important to be able to read your opponents, as this can help you determine whether they have a good hand or are trying to bluff.

In most poker games, the highest-ranking hand wins the pot. However, some games allow the highest and lowest ranked hands to divide the pot, which is known as a high-low split. In these types of games, a single white chip is worth the minimum ante or bet amount and a red chip is valued at five whites.