Poker is a card game where the player with the highest hand wins the pot. Each player puts a certain number of chips (representing money) into the pot before the cards are dealt. These bets are known as the antes, blinds and bring-ins, depending on the game rules.

To be a good poker player, you must have discipline and focus. A strong bankroll is essential, but so is a smart table selection and limit strategy. You need to be comfortable playing against weak opponents, but you should also know when to fold and never play every hand. This discipline will save you stack-crushing losses and allow your superior betting awareness and skill to pay off.

Tight players are the most common opponents, and a large part of the strategy is learning how to beat them. One of the best ways to do this is by sitting to the left of them, so you can re-raise their bets before the flop. This will force them to fold most of the time, and they won’t have a hand that is strong enough to call your bets.

In addition, you need to learn how to read other players’ tells. This includes their eye movements, idiosyncrasies and betting behavior. For example, a player who frequently calls and then suddenly raises may be holding an exceptional hand. This is a sign that he or she is in a great position to win the hand.