Poker is a card game where players bet into a pot to win. The person who has the highest ranked hand when the cards are shown wins the pot, which is all of the money that was bet during that particular hand.
To improve your poker skills you need to be observant of how other players play the game. Pay attention to their betting patterns and how they are reacting to the situation. The more you observe how other players play, the faster and better your own instincts will become. You can also learn a lot by reading books on poker strategy, but I highly recommend finding a group of winning players and start your own poker group to discuss the games you are playing in.
One of the most important aspects of a good poker player is knowing when to be aggressive. Being able to bluff is important, but being too aggressive can be costly as well. It is a fine line between making money and going broke. In general, it is best to play a strong hand pre-flop and be aggressive with it. This will make it hard for weaker hands to call your bets and allow you to force out other players with marginal hands. This will increase the value of your pot and allow you to win more money in the long run.