Poker is a game of chance and skill. It requires patience and discipline to make the right moves in the heat of the moment. It can also be incredibly frustrating when bad luck slaps you in the face and your good hands lose.

Fortunately, learning to play well is easier than you might think. By taking the time to practice and watch experienced players, you can develop quick instincts that will help you make the right decisions in every hand. Eventually, you’ll be able to make the best decisions based on the odds and your opponent’s actions, rather than a complex system of rules.

To improve your game, you need to understand the ranges that your opponents are using. Unlike in other card games, you can’t see your opponents’ cards, so you have to rely on information that they give away through their actions. This information comes in the form of how they call, raise, check and fold, and the way they play their hand.

In general, you should fold your weaker hands before the flop and only call when you have an absolute monster and the pot odds are in your favor. You should also be careful with your bluffs, as you don’t want to give your opponent good information that you can use against them.