Poker is a card game that can be played for money or simply for fun. It requires a number of skills to be successful at the game, including discipline and perseverance, sharp focus and smart game selection (the most profitable games for your bankroll). To become a good poker player you should also learn how to fold and read other players’ tells. If you can do this, then you will be able to play your opponents off of their hands and make more profits.

The first thing that you need to do is get familiar with the rules of the game. You should also know the basic terminology. Some examples include ante – the initial bet that all players must place; call – to put in the same amount as the previous player; and raise – to add more money to the pot. Once you have mastered these basic terms, it’s time to start playing!

You should start by playing conservatively and at low stakes, as you will be able to observe more and learn the flow of the game. Then, once you’ve developed a solid understanding of the fundamentals, you can start tightening up your opening range. As you do this, it’s important to remember that you should still be raising to price all of the weaker hands out of the pot. You should never limp unless your hand is really strong, and even then, it’s usually better to raise than fold.

It’s also important to learn the flop, turn and river. These are the cards that will determine how high a hand is ranked, and they will influence whether you can win a showdown or not. You should also work out your opponent’s ranges. This means going through the selection of hands they could have and working out how likely it is that they have a particular one.

As you begin to gain experience, you should try to play more of your hands on the button and the seats directly to the right of it. This is because these positions allow you to act last on the flop, turn and river, giving you a big advantage over your opponents.

As a beginner, you’re going to make a lot of mistakes. This is just the nature of the game, but don’t let them discourage you. Keep playing and learning, and soon enough you’ll start making some serious money!