Poker is a card game that relies on misdirection, deception and bluffing to win. It is a mentally intensive game and it is important to only play when you feel happy and well rested. If you are tired, angry or frustrated you will perform worse and likely lose a lot of money. If you find yourself in this situation, it is better to quit the game right away.
Poker players make their money by putting more money into the pot than others and then betting on strong hands. Top players know how to “range” their opponents; they work out what cards they could have and how likely it is that these cards will beat the hand they are holding. This helps them to put a player on a range and then either call or raise the bet they are making.
Once the flop is dealt, top players will often bet heavily on their hands to build the pot and chase off players with draws that can beat them. They also quickly work out the odds of their hand, calculating the chance that they have three of a kind or four of a kind and then how much they are guaranteed to win if they hold those hands.
You should try to mix up your play as much as possible, so that your opponent doesn’t learn what you have. If you are always bluffing or playing for big pots, your opponent will soon figure out what you have and will start to call every time you raise.