Poker is a game of deception. If your opponents know what you’re holding, it will be impossible to beat them with a strong hand and your bluffs will not be effective. Mix it up by raising and calling with a balanced range of hands, and your opponents will have a hard time guessing what you have in your hand.
You can start with a low stakes game and play conservatively to avoid losing a lot of money while learning poker strategy. Then you can move up the stakes when you’re ready to do so. This will allow you to play versus players of higher skill levels and learn from their mistakes.
There are three emotions that can kill you in poker: defiance, hope and fear. If you have these emotions in poker, you will be tempted to hold your ground against players who are beating you. This can be a terrible mistake because it will lead to you betting more and more money when you should be folding.
A good poker player knows when to fold. If your cards are weak and you are facing a strong player who is willing to raise, then don’t be afraid to fold. It’s better to be out of the hand than lose your entire stack by trying to force a call with a weak hand. Also, don’t play a hand you don’t have the best chance to win. This will cost you a big pot in the long run.
