There are many ways to improve your poker game, but it all comes down to discipline and a willingness to work hard. Commit to smart game selection, and always try to play in games with the highest profit potential. This requires a high degree of discipline and perseverance, especially when you have a losing session.

In addition to spending time studying basic rules and hand rankings, you should also spend some time learning about position. This includes understanding the difference between playing in the Cut-Off (CO) position and Under the Gun (UTG). You should also learn about how the location of players at a table affects the types of hands they can play.

It’s important to understand how to read opponents and pick up on their tells, which are the non-verbal cues they send out to reveal their cards. These can include things like fiddling with their chips, a nervous look or even how they talk. It’s also helpful to study their betting patterns, so you can figure out how much they value certain hands.

It’s important to mix up your game a bit by bluffing on occasion. However, bluffing isn’t the answer to every problem; it can often make your opponent think you have something that you don’t. This will make it more difficult for you to win big when you have the nuts, and can make your bluffs less effective. A good player is able to balance their style and use bluffing sparingly.