Poker is a card game with many variations. Players each have chips that they can bet with and two cards (a “hand”) are dealt to each player. The aim is to make the best five card hand possible using your own two cards and the community cards (dealt in a clockwise direction). The highest hand wins the pot.
The first step is to watch the hands that your opponents play. Pay particular attention to the way in which they make their decisions and the reasoning behind those decisions. This will expose you to different playing styles and strategies, which can be incorporated into your own gameplay.
Observing the way in which your opponents play will also expose you to their strengths and weaknesses. For example, you might notice that a player is very conservative and tends to fold early, but that they’re easily bluffed by more aggressive players. It is important to identify these little chinks in your opponents’ armor so that you can exploit them.
After you’ve watched a few hands, it’s time to practice your own game! Start off by playing some smaller stakes, then move on to the larger ones. As you work your way up, you’ll begin to notice that the games aren’t quite as random as they were in the beginning. Keep practicing and soon you’ll be a pro!