The goal of poker is to form a high-ranking hand based on the cards you have in your possession, in order to win the pot at the end of each round of betting. The pot is the sum of all bets placed by players during that round, including any bets placed by the dealer.
The first step in winning consistently at poker is to understand the rules of the game. Learn them thoroughly so that you can make the best decisions within the context of those rules, and become a profitable player.
Next, look beyond your own cards and think about what other players might have. This is called reading your opponents and it’s a key element of successful poker gameplay.
After all players have received their 2 hole cards, a second round of betting begins. In this round, you can fold your hand (surrender it), call a bet equal to the one made by the previous player or raise the stakes by raising the amount of your own bet.
When you have a strong value hand, don’t be afraid to play it straight. Many inexperienced players try to prove that they have a great hand by chasing all sorts of ridiculous draws, and they are often charged a premium for doing so. Trying to put your opponent on a specific line is usually a futile endeavour and will backfire more often than not. It’s better to focus on making your opponent believe that you are bluffing than forcing them to play a specific hand.