Poker is an intense game of luck and skill. It requires an understanding of odds and pot probabilities, but it also requires a mental toughness to handle big wins and bad beats. You can learn to play the game by practicing and watching others play, but it’s important to develop your own strategy based on experience. This will help you get a feel for how the game works and how it should be played, rather than trying to memorize or apply tricky systems.

Once everyone has 2 cards, a round of betting begins. This is usually initiated by the player to the left of the dealer. After the betting phase, players take turns revealing their cards. The player with the best hand wins the pot.

Generally, you want to stay in the pot if you have the highest-ranking hand, which means raising or calling bets when you have strong cards. However, you also need to be able to recognize when it isn’t worth it to call a raise — for example, if your opponent has an unbeatable hand.

It’s also important to watch other players and try to pick up on their tells, which aren’t just nervous habits like fiddling with chips or wearing a watch. This will allow you to read them and make better decisions. You should also try to understand what hands your opponents are likely holding and how they can win against them. Then, you can adjust your bets accordingly.