Poker is a card game of chance, but it also relies heavily on skill. The most successful players have a number of skills, including the ability to read other players and make adjustments to their strategy throughout a game. They are also skilled at bankroll management and able to choose the right games for their skill level. They know when to play and when to fold, and they are able to avoid making stupid mistakes like betting their entire bankroll on a weak hand.
In addition to learning how to read other players and adjusting their own style, good poker players understand how to calculate pot odds and percentages. They are also able to predict how other players will act, and they use this information to make better decisions during a hand. They are patient and can wait for optimal hands, and they are able to take advantage of late positions to increase their chances of winning the pot.
Finally, the most successful poker players have a high level of mental toughness. Losses will happen, and even the best players will have bad days. A strong player is able to shrug off these losses and keep working toward their goals. For example, if Phil Ivey loses a big hand at the World Series of Poker, he doesn’t get upset and stop playing poker. In fact, he often says that losing is just part of the game and that it’s important to keep moving forward.