Poker is a game of skill and chance. The element of luck bolsters or tanks the results of even the best players, but a well-executed strategy can give you a long-term advantage over your opponents.

Developing a consistent winning strategy requires learning to declutter your mind and develop a positive mentality. Inevitably, you will face frustrating losses that can erode your confidence. If left unchecked, these negative emotions can warp your decision-making ability and sink your poker game faster than the Titanic. This is known as “poker tilt,” and it’s the bane of every serious player.

You can practice your poker skills with free online games or by playing at a local casino. In addition to standard poker rules, there are many variations of the game, such as Omaha, Crazy Pineapple, Cincinnati, Dr. Pepper and others. Studying different poker variants can expand your understanding of the game and help you develop new strategies.

Learn to read other players and look for tells. Tells aren’t just nervous habits like fiddling with chips or wearing a watch — they include the way players move their money around the table and their general play style. An aggressive player may bluff more often, while a conservative player might check more often to see the turn or river card before calling a raise. Identifying these tells will help you adjust your own playing style to match the style of your opponents. Folding is a key aspect of poker. Unless you have the best possible hand, you should never call another player’s bet for more than the amount you put into the pot.