Poker is a card game where players bet on the strength of their hands and try to guess what their opponents have. It’s not easy, but learning your opponents is the key to success in this game. In live games you can read their physical tells, but online the game is a lot more about reading betting patterns. Once you’ve figured out how your opponents play, it makes the game much easier to win.

A basic hand in poker consists of one pair, two pairs, three of a kind, straight or flush. A pair contains two cards of the same rank, a three of a kind has 3 matching cards of one rank and two unmatched cards, and a flush is any five consecutive cards of the same suit. A straight is a running sequence of cards that can skip ranks and can be in more than one suit.

Always play your strongest hand. If your hand isn’t strong enough to raise, you should fold. If it is, then you should raise to price all the weaker hands out of the pot. Avoid limping, as it’s a waste of your money.

Practice and watch experienced players to develop quick instincts. Observe how they react to different situations to understand what their range is. This will make it easier for you to determine what your own range is. It’s also important to study your own hands and learn what went right or wrong in each one.