A lot of people think poker is just a game of chance, but it’s actually a skill-building game. It teaches you how to manage your emotions and control your behavior under pressure, which is useful in real life situations. Plus, it helps you develop cognitive abilities, like a better ability to read people and situations.

Poker involves a number of strategic decisions, but the main objective is to win the pot, which is the sum of all bets made in a deal. It can be won by having the highest-ranking poker hand, or by bluffing and forcing opponents to call your bets.

You can increase your chances of winning by playing a wide range of hands, including speculative ones like small pairs and suited connectors. It’s important to categorize your starting hands based on their potential strength: premium hands (like Aces) should be played, while speculative and marginal hands are better folded. Position at the table is also critical — players in early positions have less information to work with and should play tighter, while late players can be more aggressive as they know their opponents’ tendencies.

Observe your opponents for tells, which are unconscious habits that reveal information about their hands. These may be as simple as fiddling with their chips or a ring, but can also include facial expressions and body language. You can also adjust your bet sizing to exploit your opponent’s tendencies. Note that player tendencies can change over the course of a session, so it’s important to be vigilant and adapt your strategy as needed.