The first thing you want to learn about poker is the basic rules. This includes how to place your chips in the pot, what hands beat other hands and how the betting structure works. Then you can begin to develop your game.

Observe experienced players to see how they react to the situations they are in and develop your own instincts. This will give you an edge over your opponents.

A common saying in poker is “Play the Player, Not the Cards”. This means that while you may think your hand is great it’s only good or bad in relation to what your opponent is holding. For example, if you have a pair of Kings and the other guy is on A-A, your kings are going to lose 82% of the time.

Another important aspect of poker is position. Being in late position is much better than being in early position because you have more information on your opponents and can make more accurate value bets. You can also use position to bluff more effectively by raising preflop with your good hands. You can also learn to read other players’ tells, such as their idiosyncrasies, body language, betting habits and other things that help them make decisions. Often, these tells are very subtle. They can help you determine whether a player is bluffing or actually has a strong hand.