When you play poker, the goal is to win money. In order to do this, you must have good cards and be able to predict the range of hands your opponents have. This will allow you to make better decisions and increase your chances of winning. In addition, you must always remember to practice proper bankroll management. If you don’t, you will end up losing a lot of money.

The first step is to get into a game and observe the action. This will help you see the mistakes that many beginner players make and learn from them. It will also allow you to take notes and improve your game over time.

Once you’re in a game, it’s important to start betting early. This forces weaker hands to fold and increases the value of your pot. However, don’t be afraid to call if you have a strong hand. Trying to force your way into the pot with a bad hand will just cost you money in the long run.

Another important tip is to know the rules of poker. This includes knowing what hands beat each other, such as a flush beating a straight and two pair beating one pair. It’s also important to understand how to bluff. This can be tricky, but if done correctly it will increase your winning potential.

There’s a saying in poker that you should “play the player, not the cards.” This means that your hand is only good or bad relative to what other players are holding. For example, a pair of kings might seem like a great hand, but if another player holds A-A, your kings will lose 82% of the time.