Poker is a game of skill and chance, but the best players use a balanced approach to the game that combines sound strategy with well-timed tactics. By integrating these elements, they can exploit the weaknesses of other players who rely solely on reactive moves.

One of the first things you need to do when learning poker is to study the chart of poker hands and learn what beats what. This is an important step because it allows you to make smart bets in the future and to understand how your current hand stacks up against others.

Another thing to do is to find a good place to play poker. This can be an online poker room, a casino or at home with friends. It’s important to choose the right environment for you because it will help you feel more comfortable while you play and learn poker.

In addition to studying the chart of poker hands, you should also memorize the rules of poker and learn basic betting strategies. This is important because it will save you time and money in the long run. For example, you should know that a flush beats a straight and three of a kind beats two pair.

The next thing you should do is to develop a good poker mindset. This means being patient and staying disciplined. It’s easy to get irritated when your opponent calls your bets, but you should remember that they are making the decision based on their expected value of a given hand.