Whether you’re playing poker online or in a brick-and-mortar casino, poker is an extremely skill-intensive game. The only way to win consistently is to play against players you have a skill edge over, and to choose the limits and game format that suit your style. Getting this right requires an understanding of the game’s rules, strategies and odds. The best way to do this is to read books, watch videos and talk with other players. In addition, you should study some of the more obscure poker variants such as Omaha, Pineapple and Dr Pepper.

One of the biggest mistakes amateur players make is playing a tight, passive style. This means they often call or fold with weak hands and don’t raise when they have strong ones. It’s important to mix up your playstyle and be aggressive when you have good hands. This will keep your opponents guessing and give you more opportunities to bluff.

Another mistake is slow-playing a hand. Many players use this strategy to try and outwit their opponents, but it usually backfires. If your opponent knows what you have, they can adjust their calling range accordingly. Additionally, slow-playing can lead to a lot of false positives, which will make it very hard for you to bluff.

You should also play your strong value hands aggressively. This will not only increase your chances of winning, but it will also discourage your opponents from trying to bluff at you. Top players will often bet at the top of their range when they have a strong hand, and this will push out weaker hands and chase off others waiting for a draw.

Position is also a key factor in poker. If you are in early position, you will have less information about your opponents’ hand strength and may get raised or re-raised. On the other hand, late position allows you to manipulate the pot on later betting streets and maximize the value of your strong hands.

You should also learn to read your opponents’ behavior. Some players are loose and will play a wide range of hands, while others are tight and will only play very strong ones. Observing these tendencies and adapting your own play accordingly will help you improve your win rate. For instance, you can learn to read a player’s aggression by watching how they raise in preflop situations and make note of whether or not they fold on the river. You can then apply this knowledge in your own games.