Poker is a game of chance, but it’s also a test and a window into human nature. It’s a game that requires overcoming many different temptations and tendencies, from playing too cautiously to making an ill-advised bluff. Studying and observing experienced players’ gameplay can help you learn from their mistakes and pick up new techniques that you can incorporate into your own style.

Observing players’ behavior can also help you build good instincts about what hands are strong and which ones to play. For example, if you see that a player has passed several times and then raises the pot on the turn, it’s safe to assume that they have a high up card. You can also use this information to predict what their bluffing strategy will be.

In addition, you should learn which hands to play and when to fold. Many of the books written by pros suggest that you should only play the best hands, such as a full house (ace-king-queen of the same suit, jack-queen of the same suit, or ten-seven of the same suit). This approach surely works for those who are able to make this kind of commitment, but it’s not ideal for everyone.

In general, a more successful strategy is to guess what the other players have in their hand and then work out how likely it is that they will beat yours. This is called working out their range. It might seem like a difficult thing to do, but it becomes much easier after you play a few hands.