Poker is a card game in which players bet on the strength of their hand. The winner is the player with the highest-ranking hand at the end of one or more betting rounds. While luck plays a role in the short term, skill wins out in the long run. Anyone can learn to play poker.
Start with a good strategy book. There are many good ones available, but look for ones that were published in the past few years as poker has evolved significantly over the past 40+ years. You can also find good resources online. Another great way to improve is to talk about hands with winning players in your local game. Find players who are winning at the same stakes you’re playing and start a weekly group chat or meet up to discuss difficult spots you’ve found yourself in at the table. This will allow you to see different strategies and how successful players think about them.
Always play your best hand. If you don’t have a good hand, fold early. A common mistake is to continue betting a bad hand, hoping that it will get better on the turn or river. This is a big mistake because your opponents will know that you have a weak hand and they will be more likely to bluff against you.
Remember that there is a risk-reward in poker and in life. Playing it safe will only yield a small reward, and you’ll miss opportunities to win large pots with a moderate amount of risk.