Poker is an intense, fascinating game that has a way of testing and challenging human nature. It teaches us to separate the known from the unknown, and the controllable from the uncontrollable. This separation can be applied to other areas of life as well.

The goal of any player is to extract maximum value from their winning hands and minimise losses from losing ones. This is a process called minmaxing. A player’s winnings are maximised by playing in positions where the odds are good and taking advantage of other players’ weaknesses, while their losses are minimised by avoiding betting with weak hands.

Top players don’t fear putting money into the pot with strong hands. This will build the pot and potentially chase off other players waiting for a draw to beat theirs. However, if your opponent is strong enough to call your bets and punish your bluffs, then it is usually better to fold.

New players often feel timid about playing trashy hands, but they should not. A strong flop can transform even a weak hand into a monster.

To be a good poker player, it is important to have a short memory. You will lose a lot of hands and have bad beats, but don’t let them derail you. Keep working on your game and remember why you started playing in the first place. The long term benefits of improving your game are far more satisfying than dwelling on bad beats and coolers.