Poker is a card game in which players make bets using their own and shared cards. The game is played in rounds, with the first player to act betting on each street (preflop, flop, turn, river). Players may check (not put any money into the pot), call (match a previous player’s bet), or raise (bet a higher amount than a previous player’s bet).
In addition to learning the basic rules of poker, you need to understand how to read your opponents. This involves studying their actions and reading their body language to figure out what kind of hand they are holding. You also need to understand the importance of position, which has a huge impact on your starting hand range and strategy.
The best way to improve your poker game is to study the strategies used by experienced players. This will help you avoid common mistakes and develop a winning strategy. In addition, observing the moves of experienced players will expose you to different playing styles and approaches, which you can then adapt into your own strategy.
