Poker is a game of cards in which players compete to make the best hand. It is a mental intensive game and players perform best when they are happy. If you feel frustration, fatigue or anger building up during a poker session it is a good idea to quit the game right away. You will likely save yourself a lot of money in the long run by doing this.

The first step is familiarizing yourself with the rules of poker and learning the hand rankings. This can be done online or by reading books. It is also helpful to watch poker games to get an understanding of how the game is played.

Observe how experienced players react to the hands they are dealt and think about how you would have reacted in their place. This will help you develop quick instincts that are useful for the game.

Position is vital in poker and it is important to study how to play with different positions. This will allow you to read the board and make more accurate bets based on what you know your opponents are holding.

One of the most important things to learn about poker is how to read your opponent. This is a huge part of what separates professional poker players from beginners. A professional player will take into account not only what their own hands are, but also the moves their opponents are making. If you can read your opponent and understand what they are looking for, it will be easier to make them fold.