Poker is one of the most popular card games in the world. It’s easy to learn, extremely social and provides the opportunity for profit—but it takes a lifetime of commitment to master. It’s also a great way to get in touch with your own strengths and weaknesses, and the lessons it teaches are valuable to anyone in business. These include identifying where you have a positive edge, measuring your odds, trusting your instincts, escaping the “sunk cost trap” and committing to constant learning and improvement.

In poker, players place forced bets by making an ante or blind bet before the dealer shuffles and cuts the cards. Then, the dealer deals each player his or her cards one at a time, beginning with the player to their left. After a series of betting rounds, the players reveal their hands and the winner collects the pot.

To play well, it is important to know the rules of poker and how to read your opponents. For example, if you see someone make a high bet early in the hand, it can indicate that they have a good hand. You can then bet more aggressively, knowing that you will probably win some of your opponents’ chips.

A common mistake in poker and in life is pursuing safety too often. This results in missing opportunities where a moderate amount of risk could lead to a large reward. Nietzsche’s greatest imperative is to love your fate-amor fati. Embrace every moment that comes to you, upswing and downswing alike.