Poker is a card game that has been around for decades. It has a reputation for being a gambling game, but in fact it is a skill-based game that requires both physical and mental ability to excel.

The first thing you need to learn about poker is that you are going to have to make a lot of decisions during a hand. This is because you are deciding what cards to hold, and you also have to consider the strength of your opponents hands as well.

There are many factors that can help you to determine what hands your opponent may have, including their range of holdings, sizing and time it takes them to make their decision. Understanding these factors can help you to better understand what your opponent might be playing and to make a more educated decision on how to play your hand.

One of the most important things you can do to improve your poker skills is to learn more about ranges. It is quite hard to understand at first, but once you know the basics, it will become a natural part of your game and help you to make more informed decisions.

Another important concept you need to understand is how to evaluate a hand against a flop. The flop can improve your hand or kill it. For example, if you have pocket fives and the flop comes up A-8-5, you have a very strong hand and you could be very likely to win the pot.