Poker is a game of chance, but it also requires a lot of skill and psychology. It’s a great way to learn life lessons that apply to many other aspects of your life, like dealing with losing streaks or overcoming fear of risk-taking.

The first step in learning the basics of poker is understanding the rules and terminology. Then it’s time to practice and develop your skills. The key is to play conservatively and at low stakes so you can learn from your mistakes without hurting yourself financially.

You should also be familiar with the different types of hands. For example, a straight is five cards of consecutive rank and of the same suit. A flush is five cards of consecutive rank but from different suits. Three of a kind is three matching cards of the same rank. Two pair is two cards of the same rank and one unmatched card.

If you have a strong hand, you should raise the pot value by betting. This will force weaker hands out of the pot. On the other hand, if you have a bad hand, don’t keep betting money at it. It’s better to fold than to keep throwing good money at a bad hand.

Another important factor in playing poker is knowing how to read the other players at your table. Observe experienced players and think about how you would react in their position to help you build quick instincts.