Poker is an exciting card game that requires patience, logical thinking and perseverance to succeed. The key to success is to prepare ahead of time and then play smartly at the table.
Poker strategy involves determining the odds of winning and estimating the pot’s size in relation to the EV of your hand. Over time, your intuition for these numbers will grow and become automatic.
A good poker player should always consider how much their opponent has in the pot before deciding to call or fold. This will ensure that you don’t be tempted to bluff or call when your hand isn’t strong enough.
In addition, you should consider your position at the table. This can help you determine whether or not your opponent has a speculative hand that you can exploit.
It’s also important to be aware of the flop and turn. These two cards can often kill your hand. For example, if you have pocket fives and the flop comes up A-8-5 then that’s a bad hand. Likewise, if someone has a flush draw on the flop and you have a set or better, it can be easy to get caught.