How to Succeed at Poker
Poker is a game that requires discipline, patience and perseverance. It is also a test of human nature and provides an interesting window into the way people behave under pressure. It is not uncommon for even the most skilled players to fall victim to bad luck, or to lose a hand that they could have won with a little more focus and aggression. To succeed at poker, you must learn to control your emotions, and not let them sway your decisions.
After two cards are dealt, betting starts with the person to the left of the dealer. The player will then have the option to hit, stay or double up. If you believe your hand is weak in value, then you should say hit and the dealer will give you another card. If you want to keep the same hand, then you should say stay and the dealer will not give you a new card.
When it is your turn to act, you can say “raise” to add money to the pot. The other players will then have the option to call, raise or fold. You should only raise with strong hands, otherwise you will just be throwing good money after bad.
When you are not raising or calling, try to pay attention to the other players at the table. You can learn a lot about a person’s playing style by looking at the way they bet. The majority of poker reads are not subtle physical tells, but rather patterns that you can discern from a person’s bet history.