Poker is a card game that involves betting with real money and is a source of recreation and even livelihood for many people around the world. It is a mental and physical game that requires discipline and perseverance. It also demands the ability to make smart decisions in a variety of situations, including when to call a bet and when to fold.

A player’s decision to call, raise, or fold is based on the perceived value of their cards and the knowledge that the players around them have already made their decisions. The bets placed by the players are gathered into a pot and the player with the highest hand wins the pot. If multiple players have the same hand, they split the pot equally.

Whether you are an experienced player or a beginner, a few small adjustments in the way that you view the game can significantly improve your win rate. The divide between break-even beginner players and big-time winners is not as large as many people believe. It all comes down to developing a more cold, detached, and mathematical view of the game.

Tight Aggressive

The tight aggressive style of play in poker is one of the most effective ways to maximize your win rate. The reason this approach works so well is because it takes advantage of the tendencies of the majority of the player pool, namely the loose and passive recreational players commonly referred to as “fish.” Fish often play too many hands, call down too much, and chase draws that they should be folding. The best way to play against them is to value raise their blinds preflop and to re-raise when they limp.