Poker is a card game in which players place bets of various amounts into a pot. Although the outcome of any particular hand involves a significant amount of chance, in the long run players should aim to extract the most value from their winning hands and minimise losses from their losing ones by taking actions chosen on the basis of probability, psychology, and game theory.

There are many ways to learn about poker strategy, and some players write entire books on their methods. But the best way to develop your own strategy is through careful self-examination of past games and frequent review of your results. Many players also seek out a mentor to provide an objective outsider’s view of their game.

Another thing to remember is that the poker table is a social environment. Many people play poker for fun and enjoy chatting with their opponents during the breaks between hands. And while there’s nothing wrong with that, it can be counter-productive if you’re trying to make a living from poker.

You can learn a lot about your opponents by studying their behavior at the poker table. Try to classify them into one of the four basic player types: loose-aggressive (LAG), tight-aggressive, LP fish and super-tight Nits. They all have common tendencies that you can exploit. You should also be able to read their tells, which are not only physical signs like fiddling with chips or wearing a watch, but also mental cues like the speed of their decision-making.