The game of poker is a mental intensive game. It requires patience, discipline and perseverance. You must also commit to learning the limits, game variations and rules of the game to be successful. The game can be rewarding, but it can also be frustrating when things don’t go your way. The best players know how to stay cool and calm during these times, which is one of the keys to their success. Watch videos of Phil Ivey taking bad beats, for example, and you will see how he remains composed and doesn’t let his emotions get the better of him.
You must be able to read the opponents at your table, and this means understanding their ranges. A range is the entire selection of hands that a player can have in a given situation. Beginners will try to put their opponent on a specific hand, while advanced players will work out the entire range and calculate the chances of them having a hand that beats yours.
Another factor to consider is your position at the table. You should play tighter in early positions and looser when you are in late position. This will help you maximize the value of your hands and limit the number of times you have to call re-raises with weak or marginal hands.