Poker is a game of chance, but it also requires a lot of skill and psychology. You must be able to keep your emotions in check during games, and commit to the proper limits for your bankroll. You must be disciplined and determined, as you will have to suffer through a lot of terrible luck before you begin to see results. But the rewards can be great if you stick to your plan and don’t waver from it.
The goal of poker is to form the best possible hand based on the rankings of cards and then win the pot at the end of each betting round. The pot is the total amount of all bets placed by players during the hand. You can claim the pot by forming a high-ranking hand, or you can make the highest bet in a given situation and force other players to fold.
To stay competitive, you must be able to read your opponents. This means paying attention to how they play the game and studying their mistakes and successful moves. If you notice a particular strategy employed by experienced players, learn how to incorporate that element into your own gameplay.
If the player to your right raises, you should say “call” or “I call” in order to match their bet. Otherwise, you should fold. Weak unsuited hands, for example, should almost always be folded preflop, as they are unlikely to win when the flop hits.