Poker is a card game that involves betting and requires some skill. It is sometimes considered a game of chance, but in fact it does involve a lot of psychology and strategy, especially when the stakes are high. Players often spend time studying their own results and reviewing past hands to develop a unique strategy that works for them. Some even discuss their play with other players for an objective look at their strengths and weaknesses.
In general, good players avoid limping into pots out of position unless they are sure that the pot is small enough for them to profitably call any bet size. Limping into a pot in this situation can be risky, because the opponents might be able to improve their hand or bluff and knock you out of the pot.
A strong value hand in poker usually contains three cards of one rank and two matching cards of another rank, or four cards of different ranks in a straight. A full house contains 3 matching cards of one rank and 2 matching cards of another rank, and a flush contains five cards in consecutive rank but from more than one suit.
When a player has a strong value hand, they should try to get involved in as many multi-way pots as possible to maximize their potential winnings. This is usually done by raising preflop. Some players like to bluff occasionally, but this is best done when there is a reasonable chance that their opponent will actually fold.