Poker is a card game that requires both skill and luck to win. It is played in casinos and in private homes and is a major part of the underground gambling industry. It has been described as a national card game of the United States and its play and jargon permeate American culture.

The game is usually played by two to 14 players and the object is to win a pot, which contains all bets made during one deal. A player may call (match the amount staked by the last player), raise or concede (fold). A player can also bluff, betting that he has a good hand when in fact he does not. A good bluff can often force other players to fold their hands, and winning by bluffing can be more profitable than simply raising every time.

A poker hand consists of 5 cards. The best poker hand wins the pot. A flush is made of 5 consecutive cards of the same suit. A straight is made of 5 cards in rank or sequence but from more than one suit. A three of a kind is made of 3 matching cards of the same rank. A pair is two cards of the same rank, plus another unmatched card.

Just says that, like a good poker player, people need to build their comfort with risk-taking by taking small risks in low-stakes situations until they gain experience and develop quick instincts. She suggests playing and observing experienced players to see how they react.