Poker is a game of chance, but a strong strategy can significantly improve your odds of winning over time. This is because a good poker strategy allows you to make better decisions throughout a session or tournament, irrespective of the cards you are dealt. It’s also important to note that a strong poker strategy incorporates both a balance of proactive moves and well-timed reactive ones. This approach is what truly sets apart the pros from recreational players.
When deciding to call a bet with a strong hand, you need to consider how much money is in the pot and whether or not it’s worth trying to hit a draw. To determine this, you need to be able to work out the probability of getting the card that you need and compare it against your risk of calling a bet. Having this ability is an essential skill in poker, and something that will become easier the more you play.
It is also crucial to know when to raise your bets. This is especially important if you have a strong hand, as it will help to put pressure on the weaker hands at the table and increase the value of your pot. Conversely, it is usually a bad idea to limp when you have a strong hand, as this will only result in you losing money. You should either bet big to force out weaker hands or small to price them out of the pot.