Poker is a card game that has a lot of luck, but it also involves skill and psychology. It is a game where even the most experienced players will often make mistakes and lose big pots. It is important to understand that this is normal and work hard on your game to improve.

When you are in a hand, you must decide whether to call, raise, or fold. If you are holding a weak hand, then you should probably fold. If your hand is a strong one then you should raise to price out the worse hands in the pot. You will usually make more money in the long run by raising your bets than calling them.

It is also important to pay attention to your opponents. Many players have specific tells that can help you read their hand. You should look at their idiosyncrasies, eye movements, and betting behavior. For example, if you notice a player calling a lot of bets but they rarely raise them then it is likely that they are playing crappy cards.

You should also learn what the top players do to win. It is not always possible to emulate their moves, but you can study them and learn from them. This will allow you to understand the principles behind their winning moves and apply them to your own game. You can find many great poker guides online and in books. These will give you more detailed information than this article.