This is probably one of the most important poker skills. The sooner you have an idea of how your opponent is playing, the better your decisions against him or her will be.

I usually try to spot the best players at the table and see how they play against other players whose level I haven't determined.

Chances are they are playing a very exploitative strategy compared to others, which will give you a good idea of your opponents' tendencies.

An exploitative strategy is a strategy of looking for your opponent's mistakes and weaknesses. In this way, you can adapt your game to gain an advantage over your opponent.

The hands played at your table are your source of information. This is why you should play your hands conservatively and play smaller pots at the beginning of your session.

The exchange of information between you and other players regarding your game is the same as that which takes place between you and others.
So be aware of your opponents' thoughts about you.

The beauty of poker lies in the amount of hidden information that exists in hands when there was no showdown. Depending on the hands that other players have seen, you may return the image of a very tight player one day and a very loose player the next.