Poker is a game where you compete for money against other players. It’s a skill-based game, and the more you practice it, the better you get.

The first step to becoming a good poker player is to learn how to read your opponents’ hands. You can do this by paying attention to how your opponent bets pre-flop, especially when they call.

This can be a tricky skill to master, so it’s important to practice and watch others play to develop quick instincts. You can also learn by imagining how you’d react if you were in their position and then applying that instinct to your own playing.

One of the biggest mistakes new and inexperienced players make at the poker table is to play too many weak hands. This can be a problem because you’ll often miss the flop and have no chance to win the pot.

Another mistake new and inexperienced poker players make is to fold too often. This is usually a bad move because it gives the other players at the table the opportunity to make more money.

A good rule of thumb for folding is to fold only when you think your hand is too weak to compete against the other players at the table. It’s also a bad idea to reveal your hand after you fold, as it can give away information about what type of holding you have.