Poker is a game of chance, but it’s also a game of skill. To be successful in poker, you need to understand the basic rules, hand rankings and strategy. You should also know the different variations of the game. Regardless of the variation you choose to play, all players must ante something (the amount varies but is usually around a dime per hand) before they are dealt cards. Players can then either call, which means they’ll put chips into the pot that their opponents have to match or raise, which is betting more on top of your opponent’s previous bet.

You should also try to learn your opponents’ ranges. This is the collection of hands that your opponent could have, and you can work out how likely it is that they’re holding one of those hands. Experienced players will also study other player’s tells, such as eye movements, idiosyncrasies and betting behavior, to get an idea of how to read their opponent.

When you’re in late position, you can often get paid more easily by playing a wider range of hands. But if you’re in early position, you should try to play a more narrow range of hands. This will help you avoid calling re-raises with weak hands and getting burned by your opponent when they’re in the late position.