Poker is a card game played with chips (representing money) for a sum of money called the pot. Each player attempts to control the amount of money in the pot based on his or her own hand, the prediction of what other players may have, and his or her own ability to bluff.

The game is played in betting intervals that are determined by the rules of the particular poker variant being played. The first player to act during a betting interval must place in the pot the number of chips required to match or exceed the total contribution of the player before him. Once a certain number of players have contributed to the pot, the final card is dealt face up and there is a showdown. The player with the best poker hand wins the pot.

Despite the popularity of the game, only 10 to 15 percent of players are profitable. Experts attribute this to weak strategies and a lack of aggressiveness. In this article, Ryan Fee explains four common situations where turning up aggression can boost your bottom line.

Like any skill, poker requires practice and a willingness to learn from mistakes. Successful players are able to stay calm and focused, even when their chips are on the line. They are able to read their opponents and predict what they will do, even when they can’t see the cards themselves. The same lessons from the game can be applied to writing.