A player’s goal is to win the “pot” – the sum of all bets made on any deal. This can be done by forming the highest-ranking poker hand, or by raising enough to force other players to reveal their hands.

A poker writer should have a strong knowledge of the game and all its variations. They should also be up to date on current tournaments and trends. Finally, they should be able to tell an interesting story that will keep their readers engaged.

To improve your game, you should practice and watch experienced players to develop quick instincts. This will help you identify other players’ betting patterns and exploit them. In addition, you should read poker tips, try them out on-the-felt and then study the results to understand why they worked or didn’t.

The highest poker hand is five of a kind (five consecutive cards of the same rank). If more than one player has a five of a kind, the higher card wins. For example, a pair of kings beats a pair of sixes.

Early positions are weaker than late ones, so you should avoid playing too many hands from them. Likewise, don’t call re-raises with weak hands unless you’re in the late position. The last thing you want is to be out of position against an aggressor who can put your money at risk. On the other hand, you should play a wide range of hands in late position and be aggressive when you have the chance.