Poker is a game of strategy and deception. If your opponents always know what you are holding then you will not get paid off on your big bluffs and your strong hands won’t win enough pots to justify the risk of playing them. However, being too passive can also be costly, so make sure to mix up your style and keep your opponents guessing.
Position
Getting into position, meaning that your opponent has acted before you, is one of the most fundamental aspects of a winning poker strategy. By playing in position you are able to see your opponents’ actions before making your own decision, which can give you key insights into their hand strength. Additionally, players in position can also control the size of the pot, as they are able to bet more cheaply than their opponent can.
When it is your turn to act you can say “call” to match the amount of money that has already been placed in the pot by the player before you. If they raise their stake you can say “raise” to add more money to the pot. The other players at the table can either call or fold their cards. You can also check if you do not want to participate in the current hand. However, this will usually mean that you cannot bet on the next street if you do not have a pair or better. This is because the rules of most poker games require that active players must place an amount into the pot equal to or greater than the raise of the previous player.