Poker is a game of cards that involves chance and requires some level of skill. A player’s actions are influenced by many factors, including their understanding of probability and psychology, as well as his or her physical condition and betting patterns. While luck plays a significant role in a particular hand, players can improve their long-run expected value by learning and practicing various strategies.

The first step in improving your poker game is analyzing how your opponents play. You can do this by watching their behavior and looking for their tells, which vary from person to person and are often based on personality traits rather than a specific action or body language. Look for how players buy their chips, which can give clues to their overall strategy. For example, a conservative approach to buying in usually indicates a tight, conservative style of play, while a flashy, money-waving act may indicate an aggressive style.

Another way to increase your skills is reading and studying poker strategy books. There are many available, but it’s important to find ones that have been written recently, since the game has evolved a lot over the past few years.

You can also learn more about poker by talking to winning players. Try to find players playing in the same stakes you are, and start a weekly chat or meet up to discuss difficult spots that you’ve found yourself in during the week. This will help you see how other winning players think about these situations and make more informed decisions in the future.