The game of poker involves betting between players on each round of a hand. The player with the best poker hand wins. Each betting interval, or round, begins when one player, in turn, makes a bet of one or more chips. Players can either call the bet by putting into the pot the same number of chips as the player who made the bet; raise (put in more than the amount called); or drop out of the hand.

The first step in improving your poker strategy is learning how to read your opponents’ actions and reactions. While this may seem obvious, it is important to understand that reading your opponents is more than simply noticing facial expressions and body language. It is a highly detailed and specific skill that requires you to track things like mood shifts, eye movement, and the time it takes to make a decision.

In addition, it is important to practice and watch experienced players play in order to develop quick instincts. A good way to do this is to play small stakes games and only with money that you are comfortable losing. This will help you focus more on the fundamentals of the game and avoid making mistakes that come from over-exaggerated expectations based on your own experience or ego. It will also force you to open your hand range and play more aggressively when you have strong value hands. This will give you an edge over your opponents and allow you to capitalize on their mistakes.