Poker is a card game where the goal is to form the best hand based on the cards you hold in order to win the pot at the end of each round. The pot is the total of all the bets made by players at the table. You can win the pot by having the highest ranking hand at the end of each betting round or if you bet so much that other players fold.
The first round of betting in a poker hand begins after each player receives their 2 hole cards. There are then mandatory bets called blinds that the players to the left of you put into the pot. Once these bets are in place a 3rd card is dealt face up on the board that anyone can use, this is known as the flop. After the flop there is another round of betting, then a 4th card is dealt face up which is the river. Once all the cards are revealed there is a final round of betting and then it is time for the showdown.
A big reason why so many people lose at poker is that they are unable to self-examine their play and identify areas where they can improve. They may also lack patience and find it hard to stay disciplined, especially when they lose hands that could have been won had they stuck to their plan. Fortunately, you can train yourself to avoid these mistakes through detailed self-examination and review of your results.