The game of poker is a card game where players wager chips on the outcome of their hand. The best hand wins the pot. Players can call, raise, or fold during a round of betting. The game originated from the 17th-century British game of Primero, and was developed into a more sophisticated form in the United States in the 1800s.
One of the main reasons beginner players struggle so much at first is that they’re playing with emotion and superstition. You have to approach the game in a completely cold, mathematical and logical manner if you want to improve at a rapid pace.
Another huge mistake beginner players make is ignoring the importance of position. If you’re on the button, you’ll have a big advantage over players to your left and right. Position is key when bluffing and will make or break your winning percentage. Learn to read your opponent’s tendencies and use tools like Power-Equilab to figure out their ranges, then run the equity of your JJ against that range in a variety of scenarios. This is an essential skill to develop off the table, and will help you start to internalize the math pieces on the felt as well.
Lastly, it’s very important to know when to fold. A common error that many beginners make is taking the stance that they’ve already invested so much money into a hand, that they might as well play it out to the end. Usually, though, this is the wrong strategy. If your hand has the lowest odds of winning (usually unsuited low cards), or if you’re going to face an expensive flop, it’s generally better to fold than continue to risk your money.
