Poker is a card game in which players place bets against one another according to the strength of their hands. It is a fast-paced game and can get very emotional. It is important for beginners to understand that they should not bet if their hand is not strong. This requires patience and discipline.

In addition to understanding the basic rules of the game, players should learn how to read their opponents. This is done by observing their reactions to other player’s bets and checking for tells. A good way to build this skill is to watch videos of professional players and consider how they would react in different situations.

Players should also spend time studying the range of their opponent’s hands. This includes knowing the difference between a full house and a flush, as well as understanding how the position of a player at the table influences their range. A beginner will often focus on winning a specific hand, but an advanced player will look at the whole picture to make better decisions.

When playing against LAGs, it is a good idea to be on their left as much as possible. This will give you the opportunity to take advantage of their mistakes. It is also important to play your strong value hands as straightforwardly as possible. Doing so will prevent your opponents from overthinking and reaching the wrong conclusions, while giving you full freedom to maximise EV. This approach is particularly effective against bluffing opponents who tend to overvalue their own hands and overplay them.