Poker is a game of cards where you need to read your opponent, balance the pot odds and your potential return on your investment when deciding whether or not to try and hit a draw. You also need to understand how the game works, what types of hands are best and how to play them.

The basics of the game are quite simple – players put in an amount (representing money) into the pot called blinds before they are dealt 2 cards. Then a round of betting starts, usually started by the player to the left of the dealer. Once this is over the dealer deals a third card face up to the table which everyone can use. This is called the flop.

Say you deal yourself a pair of kings on the deal. This isn’t a bad hand, but it isn’t great either. To make the best of your hand you need to play it well and disguise its strength. This is where the art of poker comes in. You must bluff often enough to get your opponent to fold, but you have to bluff at the right times too and with the right opponents. Only then can you maximise your win rate. By starting at the lowest limits you can practice your poker skills versus weaker players and move up the stakes faster, which will increase your win rate even further.