Poker is a game where luck and chance play a huge role. It requires a certain level of mental toughness to stick to your plan when you have terrible cards or are getting beat by a monster hand. Look at videos of Phil Ivey taking bad beats and you will see that he doesn’t get emotional or let it affect his decision making. He just moves on and continues to follow his plan.
The game starts with 2 hole cards being dealt to each player. There is then a round of betting (called the preflop) where players can fold, call, raise or check. Then 3 community cards are dealt (called the flop) and another round of betting takes place. Then a final card is dealt (called the river) and there is a final round of betting where players can still check if they have a good enough hand to win.
Bluffing in poker is far less common than you might think based on the way it is portrayed on TV or by friends. However, bluffing can add value to your play by creating uncertainty in your opponent’s mind. The smaller the pot, the more risk you should be willing to take when bluffing.
Position is key in poker, and it’s important to understand how to use it to your advantage. Acting early gives you a better idea of what your opponents are holding and allows you to make more accurate value bets.