The game of poker has a lot to do with luck, but if you want to be good at it you need to be mentally tough. You should always be willing to lose some money, and never let ego make you play with too much risk. This is why it’s a good idea to play with only a buy-in you’re comfortable losing. This will force you to make smart decisions and not let fear cloud your judgment.
Another important part of the game is reading players and learning their tells. There are many resources for this online, including videos from world-class professionals like Phil Ivey. A tell is any indication of nervousness or bluffing, and can include fiddling with chips, speaking out loud, and body language. By learning these tells, you can improve your read on opponents and their intentions.
Once the betting phase is over, the dealer will put three cards face-up on the table for everyone to see and use. This is called the flop. From here the players can fold, call, or raise their bets. The goal is to get the best five card poker hand.
As the last player to act, you have the final say on the pot size, and can inflate it further if you have a strong poker hand. However, if you have a weak draw, it’s not worth trying to win the hand by raising. In the long run, you’ll be better off folding.