Poker is a game of deception and strategy. If your opponents always know what you have, it will be difficult to get paid off with strong hands and bluffs will rarely work. Mix up your hand selection and play style to keep your opponents guessing.

Start at low stakes. This minimizes your financial risk and allows you to experiment with different strategies without feeling the pressure of making mistakes. Use a poker software program to track your decisions and analyze the results of each session. This can help you identify holes in your game and improve your decision-making process.

Learn the basic card ranks and how they map to specific hands. For example, pocket kings and queens are very good starting hands, but an ace on the flop usually spells disaster. If you are holding these hands and the board has lots of straight cards or flushes, it might be worth trying to hit your draw, but remember that you are only getting paid if you have the best hand.

Position is extremely important. Being able to act last gives you the advantage of knowing your opponent’s actions and the strength of their hands before they call or raise. This information will allow you to adjust your bluffing and calling range accordingly. It also allows you to take advantage of the odds that your opponent is facing and make bets that will maximize your chances of winning the pot.