Poker is an amazing game of chance and psychology, but it also requires a lot of skill. The best players understand the long term expected value of a play and then take action that is designed to maximize this value. This is often accomplished through a combination of bluffing and betting.
While many new players focus on trying to put their opponent on a particular hand, more experienced players will instead try and work out the range of hands they could have. This is called ‘reading’ your opponent and it is a key aspect of winning at poker. This type of reading doesn’t involve subtle physical tells such as scratching your nose or playing with your chips nervously but is more about noticing patterns in your opponent’s actions. For example if a player calls every bet and folds all in then you can assume that they are only playing fairly strong hands.
The first thing to remember when playing poker is that you need to have fun. Poker can be a mentally intensive game and you will only perform at your best when you are happy. If you are feeling frustrated, tired or angry then it is probably best to take a break and come back later when you are in a better mood. This is particularly important if you are playing a tournament because you will be making decisions under pressure.