Poker is a card game in which players place bets into a central pot. A player can raise the amount of money placed into the pot by saying “raise.” Then the other players may call the new bet or choose to fold (drop out of the betting).

Traditionally, the best poker hand is a pair of deuces. The player who has the best two-card hand wins the pot. A player can also hold one deuce and draw cards to create a better hand.

To improve your poker skills, start out conservatively and play at low stakes. This will force you to observe more and develop good instincts. Then, as you gain experience, start to open your hand range and mix your play more.

It’s important to learn how to read other players’ tells — their eye movements, idiosyncrasies, hand gestures and betting behavior. Observe the other players at your table and imagine how you would have reacted in their position to develop quick instincts.

Risk-taking is a key aspect of poker, but it’s not always easy to do well. “If your odds are decreasing round after round, it might be time to change strategy,” Just says. It’s a lesson she learned as an options trader and one she applies to her poker playing: if you stick with the same approach, you’ll eventually lose.