Poker is a game of chance, but it also involves a significant amount of skill. The best players make decisions based on probability, psychology, and game theory rather than random chance. They have a system that they follow, even when it’s boring or frustrating. They are willing to fall victim to terrible luck, or a bad beat, and they use that experience to improve their strategy.

Top players play their strong hands aggressively, and bet often. This forces weaker hands out, and raises the value of the pot. The top players can also quickly tell what a hand is, and which ones aren’t worth playing.

You have a pair of kings on the deal (not great, but not bad). You check (calling when you don’t owe anything to the pot), Charley calls, and Dennis raises a dime. Now you have to call or fold, and it’s likely that somebody who doesn’t belong in the hand will hit a better one on the flop and win the hand.

To make money, you have to be able to make good decisions in the face of pressure. If you’re not mentally strong enough to do this, poker isn’t the game for you. It’s also important to watch other players and learn their tells. The more you practice and study, the quicker your instincts will become. This is much more important than trying to memorize and apply complicated systems that don’t work in real poker games.