Poker is a game that’s more than just luck, it’s a game of strategy and psychology. It’s a great way to test your risk assessment abilities as you learn to read the other players and conceal your emotions. This is a great skill to have in life, especially if you want to have a healthy relationship.
When you’re new to the game of poker it can feel like your whole world is crashing down around you when you have the worst possible hand. That’s just part of the learning process though and you have to get through those “Feels bad man” moments in order to make progress.
You should also be careful when holding good hands, as the flop can spell disaster for you. For example if you have pocket kings and the flop comes A-8-5, your hand is going to be crushed by three of a kind, straight, or flush. If you hold a good hand and the board has tons of high cards, it’s best to bet at it to build the pot and force weaker hands out of the action.
Top players fast play their strong hands, which can help them win the most money over time. They bet a lot, which will not only build the pot but also chase off other players waiting for draws that could beat them. This is why top players are able to take home so much more cash than other players.