"At its core, poker is a game of skill, specifically the skill of minimizing losses on bad hands and maximizing profits on good hands. You are constantly at war with luck."

"Mathematical expectation is the foundation of all gambling. It defines the average amount you stand to win or lose per bet over the long run."

"You profit whenever an opponent plays their hand differently from how they would have played it if they could see your cards. You lose when you do the same."

"Immediate pot odds can be misleading when multiple betting rounds remain. Effective odds factor in the cost of all future bets you will have to call."

"Straightforward play allows observant opponents to play perfectly against you. Deception disguises your strength to force opponents into making mistakes."

"A semi-bluff is a bet with a hand that is likely not the best right now but has a good chance of becoming the best. It combines fold equity and showdown equity."

"Never raise 'just to see where you are.' Raise to: 1) Increase the pot (Value), 2) Drive out opponents (Protection), 3) Bluff, or 4) Get a free card."

"Check-raising is checking with the intention of raising after an opponent bets. It's a powerful tool to trap opponents or protect a hand when out of position."

"Slowplaying is checking or just calling with a very strong hand to induce opponents to bet or to keep them in the pot when they might otherwise fold."

"Position refers to where you sit relative to the dealer button. Being in late position allows you to see how everyone else acts before you make a decision."