The best poker players are disciplined, focused and mentally sharp. They make smart decisions about their game selection, bankroll management and strategies. They also have good stamina to ensure they can play long sessions without getting bored or distracted.

Poker is a card game where players try to make the best hand from their two personal cards and the five community cards on the table. It is a popular card game that has been around for decades and continues to be played by millions of people worldwide.

There are many ways to improve your poker game, but some are more effective than others. One important skill is reading other players’ body language and facial expressions, but this takes time to learn. Another key skill is understanding how your opponents’ bets are calculated, especially their position at the table. This gives you a lot of information about how strong your opponent’s hand is and how much value you can get from bluffing in particular hands.

The first step in learning to read other players’ tells is to pay attention to their bluffing behavior. It is easy to tell when someone is bluffing because they usually make a large bet that is not likely to win. Also look at their chip handling, such as how they slide the chips delicately into the pot. Finally, listen for their speech, and watch for incoherent, high pitched or broken words. These are all tells that can be difficult to hide.