Poker is a game where luck and skill are both required to win. However, over time the application of skill will virtually eliminate the element of luck from your play.
Poker consists of five cards that are dealt face up in two rounds and one final round of betting (showdown). The player with the best 5 card poker hand wins the pot, which includes all bets made in each of the previous rounds.
The first rule of poker is that your poker hand is usually only good or bad in relation to what the other players are holding. For example, if you have two Kings and another player has A-A on the flop, your pair of kings will lose 82% of the time.
Beginners should practice folding often to develop quick instincts. They should also learn how to read other players and watch for tells (eye movements, idiosyncratic gestures, betting behavior etc.). A player that frequently calls and then suddenly raises is probably holding a great hand.
It is important to study ONE poker concept per week. Many players spend too much time hopping between topics and end up not understanding any of them well. For instance, they will watch a cbet video on Monday, then read a 3bet article on Tuesday and then listen to a podcast about tilt management on Wednesday. This approach will ensure that you do not miss any essential concepts. You will also be able to concentrate on the details of each subject and not get overwhelmed by too much information.