Poker is a game that requires a lot of discipline. It also requires a lot of patience and a willingness to take the necessary steps to improve. It’s not for everyone, but if you’re willing to put in the work, it can be very profitable.
The first thing you’ll need to learn is the rules of the game. This includes knowing what hands beat what and how the cards are dealt. It’s important to understand this so you can make the right decisions and maximize your chances of winning.
Once all players have 2 hole cards, a betting round begins. Then another card is dealt face up, this is called the flop. A round of betting then happens again with the same options as before. You can either call, which means you’ll match the amount your opponent bets or raise it, which puts more chips into the pot than the previous player.
If you’re holding a strong hand then raising is usually the correct option. It’ll price all the worse hands out of the pot and allow you to maximise the value of your hand. However, if your hand isn’t great then it’s probably best to fold – raising in this situation can lead to a big loss.
A big mistake that many beginners make is to jump around in their studies. They watch a cbet video on Monday, read an article on 3bet on Tuesday and listen to a podcast about ICM on Wednesday. Taking the time to focus on ONE concept at a time will help you retain information and make better decisions over the long term.