Poker is a game of chance, but you can improve your chances by learning how to play smart. It takes many skills to be successful at poker, but the most important ones are discipline and focus. You also need to be able to read other players and pick up on their tells. This includes their idiosyncrasies, betting behavior and hand gestures. You can use this information to know when they’re holding a strong hand and are likely to raise.

When playing poker, it’s essential to be patient and only bet when the odds are in your favor. As a beginner, you’ll have to learn how to fold in the face of bad cards. However, it’s important to understand that you can still win a pot with a weak hand. For example, a straight or 3 of a kind is a better hand than a pair because it’s more likely to beat other hands.

Another good strategy to follow is putting an opponent on a range. This means you’ll consider their entire selection of hands they can have in a particular situation. Advanced players often take the time to do this before they decide how much to bet. Beginners often put out only a single hand and tend to act on their gut feelings. This is a big mistake. Poker is a mental game, and you should only play it when you’re feeling happy and focused. If you’re not in the right mindset, it’s best to quit the game instead of risking your money.