Poker is a game of chance, but it also involves a fair amount of skill and psychology. In fact, the element of luck that can boost or tank a great player probably makes it more lifelike and interesting than most sports.

The first step to becoming a strong poker player is learning how to read the table. You must understand that a player’s actions and the way they talk tell you something about their hand. Each time you fold, call, raise or check, you’re giving away bits of information that your opponents will use to build a story about you.

If you can decipher these stories, you’ll be able to determine which hands your opponents are holding and how likely it is they will win. You’ll then be able to make better decisions about calling or raising preflop and playing postflop.

Once you have a basic understanding of how cards map to specific hands, the next step is to observe experienced players and learn from their mistakes and successes. Studying the plays of good players exposes you to different strategies and playing styles, allowing you to adopt and adapt them into your own style.

Another important aspect of the game is positioning. You must know when to call, raise or fold depending on your position at the table. For example, if you’re the first to act with a decent hand like a pair of kings, you should raise when other players check (call when they don’t have to contribute anything to the pot). If you’re last to act, you can bet more and potentially steal blind bets.