Poker is a card game that requires a lot of split-second decisions. Those decisions can be impacted by the player’s mood, so it’s best to play poker when you’re in the right headspace. It’s also a good idea to make sure you don’t play poker when you’re drunk or tired. This will prevent you from making bad decisions and losing money.
The goal of poker is to win a majority of the pots you play in. You can do this by playing against the worst players in the room and putting yourself in positions where you have the highest chance to win. This is why it’s important to leave your ego at the door and always look for tables where the average player is worse than you.
You should learn to read your opponents and understand how they play. While this is easier to do in a live setting due to subtle physical tells, it can still be done in an online game. The best way to do this is by looking at patterns in their betting. For example, if a player calls with weak pairs on the flop you can assume they’re playing some pretty crappy cards.
Another aspect of reading your opponents is knowing how to play in position. This will allow you to continue the hand for cheaper and control the size of the pot. It’s also important to be aware of how much your opponent has in their hand as well.