Poker is a game of skill and luck. It is not an easy game to master, but it is a very rewarding one once you do. The first step to becoming a good poker player is learning the rules. This includes understanding how each hand ranks and the impact of your position at the table.

Another important aspect of poker is reading your opponents. This can be done by observing the physical tells of players at the table or by analyzing their betting patterns on a computer. For example, if a player calls the majority of the time and suddenly raises their bets during a hand, they may be holding a strong hand.

The last thing you want to do in poker is play a weak hand against a strong one. It is often better to fold than risk throwing money at a weak hand in the hope that it will improve. This is called defiance and it can lead to disaster. Hope is even worse because it can keep you in a hand when you shouldn’t be.

When you have a strong hand, bet aggressively pre-flop. This forces weaker hands to call or fold and helps you build a pot. It is also important to learn how to bluff. A well executed bluff can make you look weak when you actually have a strong hand and force players to bet with weak hands or fold altogether. It is a great way to get more value out of your hands.