Poker is an American word, originated from the Greek words platos meaning being rich and atheros meaning god; these words combined bring about the idea of gambling where one would bet on the outcome of a game. Poker is also a family of casino games where players wager over the outcome of which hand is most appropriate according to the rules of that particular game. In poker games, a person who wins is known as a “poker champ”, a player who wins a pot (the amount rolled into the poker hands) is called a “poker liar” and a player who loses is known as a “poker fool”. In some ways, it can be said that poker is no different from gambling because both involve putting your money at risk with no guarantee that you will come out ahead. This is what attracts people to play poker.

One of the greatest attractions of playing poker is the fact that unlike gambling, you can play for fun as well as play for money. The thrill of playing a winning hand against an opponents bluff is very thrilling, and is one of the reasons why players keep coming back to poker tables. Poker can also be considered a safe environment for women and individuals of young age groups as there is always someone who would not dare to mess up with the winning cards. You can also find many players who take part in online poker tournaments for the chance to become World Series Champions.

However, it is important to note that no matter how skilled a poker player one is, success is only guaranteed if you apply your mind in playing and winning. The biggest mistake that most players make is not thinking before they play. They do not think whether their opponents are bluffing or not, they do not think about the odds or about strategies that can help them win, they simply act on instinct and play their cards. However, as any poker player should know, once you make the first strike against your opponents, they can counter your strike and beat you. Therefore, you need to carefully think before you act.