Poker is often considered a game of chance, and it has an element of luck involved. However, most people who play the game seriously know that the majority of the results are determined by skill and knowledge of strategy. It can be a very profitable game in the long run, but you have to be willing to invest time and effort into learning the correct strategies and be ready to put in some work.
A good poker player learns to read their opponents. This is not necessarily done through subtle physical “tells” but rather by studying their actions and patterns. For example, if an opponent constantly calls and raises the pot, then you can assume they are playing strong hands. This is only one piece of the puzzle though, you also have to be able to evaluate the strength of your own hand to determine whether or not it’s worth calling the other players’ bets.
There is also a mental aspect to poker that many new players struggle with. You have to learn not to be too emotional about winning or losing. This is important because when you are emotional, you will tend to over-play your hand and bet on weak hands. A big loss can erode confidence, but it’s important to remember that even the most successful poker players suffer from bad beats sometimes. Watch videos of Phil Ivey or any other pro player and you’ll see them handling the occasional bad beat with grace.