Poker is a game of incomplete information where players make decisions in the face of uncertainty. This means that every action, even something as simple as calling or folding, conveys a bit of information to the opponents. This information is then used to build a story about the player, whether that story is that they have a good hand or a bad one. This is why knowing the theory behind probability and psychology are so important in poker.

Poker is about minimizing risk as much as possible, and part of that is knowing when to get out of a hand. If you’re holding a pair of Aces and someone raises, it’s likely that you’ll be forced to fold. But if you have a weaker pair and the bet size is reasonable, it’s sometimes worth checking to see a free turn or river card.

Also, it’s important to learn to read other players. Many poker reads come from subtle physical tells like fiddling with your chips or scratching your head, but others are more complicated. If a player always calls and then suddenly makes a big raise, they probably have a strong hand.

Finally, don’t be afraid to go all in when you have a great hand. This is often the best move because it can force opponents to commit a large percentage of their stacks to a showdown, which reduces the amount of money they can win if they have a better hand.