Poker is a game of chance, but it also has an element of skill that can help players to maximize their potential for profit. Learning to play poker well requires a good understanding of the basic rules, as well as some advanced strategies.

When you play poker, you’re competing to form the best hand based on the rankings of your cards and win the pot at the end of each betting round. The best way to do this is by making a bet that other players cannot call, leading them to fold their hands. This is known as “poker aggression.”

To develop a poker strategy, it’s important to study the gameplay of experienced players. This can give you a better understanding of how different players react in certain situations, and it can help you to avoid common pitfalls. It’s also a great way to learn new tactics and tricks.

As a beginner, it’s important to keep your starting hand count low. Beginners should try to only play the top 20% of hands in a six-player game, or 15% of hands in a ten-player game. You should also avoid limping, especially in late position. This gives your opponents an easy pass to see the flop for cheap with mediocre holdings, and you will find it difficult to make money in these situations. If you’re unsure whether your hand is strong enough to raise, you can use free graphs online to help you work out the odds of hitting your draw.