Poker is a card game in which players place chips (representing money) into the pot when it is their turn to act. Each player is dealt two cards. There are 13 different card ranks, so there are 169 possible combinations of starting hands. In each betting interval, a player may fold (exit the hand), check (not place any bet), call (match an earlier player’s bet), or raise (bet more than the previous player). The first player to act places his chips in the pot, and then each player acts in turn in clockwise order.
The best way to improve your poker skills is to play, study, and watch experienced players. Learn to read other players’ body language and observe their actions for tells. The more you practice, the faster you’ll develop instincts about how to react. It is also important to make smart decisions about game selection and limits.
Ultimately, you should realize that your poker success is based on the situation, not on your cards. A good starting hand is still not very good if you’re playing against someone who has great cards. For example, K-K is a great hand, but it will lose 82% of the time against A-A.