Poker is a game of incomplete information. Players know there are 52 cards in the deck divided into four suits with 13 cards each, but they cannot know what cards their opponents have or how much of their cards are face up. They must make decisions around whether to fold, check, raise, and how much to bet based on these probabilities and their anticipation of how their opponents will play.
A good poker player knows how to read other players and is able to weight their chances to maximise profits. This balanced approach is what truly separates the pros from casual players.
To help your poker scenes feel realistic, it is important to understand the rules of the game and its various variants. You should also familiarise yourself with the hand rankings. This will allow you to make informed decisions about which hands to play and how to play them.
It is also helpful to practice and watch experienced players to develop quick instincts. Observing their moves will help you to identify mistakes and challenging situations, so that you can avoid them in your own gameplay. In addition, paying attention to their successful moves will expose you to different strategies and approaches, so that you can adapt and incorporate elements of these into your own gameplay. In doing so, you will become a more versatile and well-rounded player. This will also improve your odds of winning, especially if you are competing against players who do not make the same mistakes as you.