To improve your poker skills you need to be committed to making the right plays and to learning the game. This includes committing to the proper limits for your bankroll, studying bet sizes, and knowing how to play each position. It also means finding and participating in games that are profitable. A fun game may not always be the most profitable, and it may not always provide the best learning opportunities.

Another key skill is to learn how to read your opponents. This can be done by analyzing physical tells or through observing how they behave at the table. Over time you will discover things like whether a player often raises the pot or tends to fold weak hands. This knowledge can help you make better decisions about when to play your hand and how aggressively to play it.

When you are holding a strong hand, it is generally a good idea to bet and push out weaker hands from the pot. This can increase the value of your hand and allow you to win more money. It is important to remember that you can bluff at any point during the game. However, bluffing is a difficult strategy to master and requires a lot of practice.

To be a good poker player you need to develop quick instincts. This means playing a lot of hands and watching a lot of experienced players. Observe how they react in different situations and imagine how you would have reacted to make the same decision. Over time this will give you the confidence and skills to make quick decisions on the fly in any situation.