Most people mistakenly view poker as a card game that has a betting aspect added. This is a fundamental misunderstanding of the game. Poker is a betting game to which cards have been added to set up the betting situations.

This brought the most incredible imagery to me: I have been dealt blank cards. Yes - blank cards. A true master poker player could possibly bet pre-flop, etc., and get all but the most supreme fish and donkeys to lay down. The ultimate bluff! The only way to have "nothing!"

Poker is profitable because most people who play think they're playing a card game. The winning player knows that is a faulty assumption.