How to Play Better Poker

Poker is a game of skill where players try to make the best hand possible at any given time. A good poker player constantly reassesses their strategy and adjusts it to improve their results.

Reading People

One of the most important skills to develop when playing poker is the ability to read your opponents. While this skill isn’t very difficult to develop, it does require a lot of practice and observation.

When you are watching other players, try to pay attention to their body language and how they handle their chips and cards. These tells can be useful in predicting what their hands might be, especially when they make unusual movements or have an unusually long decision-making process.

Position

The importance of position in poker is crucial. It allows you to play a wider range of hands and gives you “bluff equity,” or the ability to make simple, cheap bluffs that other players aren’t likely to fold to.

Writing Your Hand Ranges

The easiest way to write your hand range is to divide it into tiers, with suited and unsuited versions of each grouping. This helps you create a balanced range and makes it easier for you to read others’ hands.

Understanding Your Pot Size and Bet Sizing

Most poker games have a set amount of chips that each player can bet or raise with. These amounts vary, depending on the type of poker game and its rules.