Poker is a game of skill that involves making decisions based on card strength and relative hand strength. You can improve your decision-making by understanding how to read other players and their betting patterns. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced player, reading strategy books is an excellent way to develop your game. You should also look for books that were published recently, as the game has evolved rapidly in recent years. Joining an online community or group chat can help you talk through difficult spots in hands with other players and learn from their experiences.

A common mistake for beginners is to take the stance that they already have money invested in a hand, so they should play it out and win it all. However, sometimes it’s better to fold and save your chips for another hand. This will allow you to play a stronger hand the next time around and avoid getting involved in bad hands.

Another mistake is trying to bluff too much. While bluffing is an important part of the game, it should be used sparingly by beginner players. It’s important to understand the opponent’s range and how strong their hands are in order to decide if they should call your bluff or not.

Always try to play in position. It’s a basic winning strategy that will give you more information on how strong or weak your opponents are in each hand. It will also allow you to control the size of the pot and make the decision on how to play your hand.