Poker is a game of chance, but skill also plays a significant part in the long run. While luck does have an impact, players can control the amount of skill that outweighs chance in their games by making adjustments to their play over time.

Some of these adjustments include learning to read tells, choosing the right bet size, studying betting patterns, and playing in position. These adjustments will help players to become profitable, either as break-even beginner players or big-time winners.

The first step in becoming profitable is to learn to read the players at your table. Observe how they handle their chips, and pay attention to their body language. Players that smile broadly and stare at the flop are usually ready for action, while players who fumble with their chips suggest they are not prepared to act. Look for signs of blood pressure, such as flaring the nose or throbbing veins in the neck or head.

Once players have analyzed their opponents, they can begin to predict the range of hands that they could hold. This range of hands can be compared to the player’s own hand, and the odds of beating the other player’s hand are calculated. Ultimately, this allows the player to decide whether to call or raise a bet. A raised bet is made by a player who believes that his or her hand has positive expected value. When a player calls a raised bet, he or she must put into the pot at least as many chips as the player who raised it.