Whether you are an experienced poker player or a complete beginner, there is always room to improve your game. This is true both in terms of strategy and tactics, but also in how you think about the game. Often the difference between break-even beginner players and big-time winners is not as wide as people might imagine, and a lot has to do with changing how you view the game and its various situations.
The first thing beginners should learn is that they need to understand the betting structure of the game. Basically, each player has to place chips (representing money) into the pot according to how they wish to proceed in the hand. If the person in front of you makes a bet, then it is your turn to either call it or raise it. If you want to call, then you must place in the same amount as the person before you. If you want to raise then you must say “raise” and then add the amount you wish to place into the pot.
Position is very important in poker because it gives you cheap and effective bluffing opportunities, as well as the ability to observe the other players and study their patterns. Beginners should learn to read other players as much as possible, not only by observing their subtle physical poker tells like scratching the nose or playing nervously with their chips, but also by watching how they play. A player who calls all the time is likely to be holding strong hands, whereas one who raises every single time will probably have a weak one.
