Poker is a game of chance, but it’s also a game of skill and psychology. If you want to play the game well, learn the rules and practice the strategies of other players. A good understanding of the game’s rules will help you avoid common mistakes and understand how to read other players.

A good poker player tries to keep other players guessing about the strength of his or her hand. This requires patience, which can be difficult in a fast-paced poker game. Poker players also need to be aware of the risk involved in making certain calls, and they should always make sure that the bets they place into the pot are justified by their odds of winning.

When it is your turn to act, say “call” to match the amount of money raised by the person before you. If the player before you raises, say “raise” to add additional chips or cash to the betting pile. If you want to stay in the hand, say “check,” which means that you are staying with the bets you have already placed and won’t be raising on this particular hand.

If you are playing poker online, then you should be aware that this eliminates in-person knowledge of other players, including visual cues and body language. However, most professional poker players make up for this lack of in-person knowledge with sophisticated software and other resources that help them build behavioral dossiers on their opponents.