Poker is a card game that requires a certain amount of skill and luck to win. It is also a social game that encourages interaction between players, making it a fun and challenging game for all ages. To become a good player, you must learn to read your opponents’ body language and tells. This includes things like their fidgeting with chips or a ring. It is important to be able to pick up on these signals so that you can adjust your own behavior accordingly.
When you start out, it is best to play relatively tight hands, especially when you are on the button. This means that you should only play the top 20% of hands in a six-player game and 15% in a ten-player game. If you are playing late position, it is a little more forgiving and you can play a slightly wider range of hands. Nevertheless, you should still be cautious and make sure that your hands are strong enough to beat the other players’.
Another thing that you must remember when starting out is that you will lose some of the time. It is no secret that even the most successful poker players have suffered some major losses in their careers. However, it is important to not let these losses get you down and to keep working on your skills. Watch videos of Phil Ivey playing, and notice how he never gets upset after a bad beat. He is a true professional.