Poker is a card game in which players wager against each other and the dealer. The highest hand wins the pot. The game is played with a standard deck of 52 cards (some poker variants use multiple packs or add jokers). There are four suits: spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs. The highest hand is a Royal Flush which consists of a King, Queen, Jack and Ace of the same suit.
During the early stages of learning poker, it’s best to focus on getting comfortable with the fundamentals. This will help you avoid mistakes at the table and progress faster.
As you get more comfortable with the basics, it’s a good idea to start watching other players at the tables and learn their tells. Pay attention to their eye movements, idiosyncrasies and betting behavior to figure out what kind of player they are. It’s important to understand that poker is mostly a game of chance, but when betting is involved there is a fair amount of skill and psychology at play.
The biggest mistake that new players make is looking for cookie-cutter advice like “always 3bet X hands” or “always check-raise your flush draws.” Each spot is unique and you need to adjust your strategy based on the situation at hand. Keep studying, practice and enjoy the ride! Everyone started out as a terrible beginner, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t see instant results. You’ll eventually get there! If you want to improve your skills, watch the videos below and follow the study methodology I have outlined.