Poker is a card game in which you form the best hand based on the cards you have and place your bets to win the pot. The pot is the total of all bets placed in a single betting round. A good poker strategy involves playing against the weakest competition and minimizing your risk. For example, limping into a pot from out of position is a big mistake. If you’re a strong player, you should raise and force weaker hands to fold.

Another strategy is to observe other players and learn their tells. This will help you build your own poker instincts and improve your performance. A good poker book must have some theory, but also have lots of practical examples of the game.

If you’re planning to write a book on poker, start a file of poker hands that are relevant to your subject matter. This will help you write a clear and concise text, as well as provide the reader with real-world examples of poker.

One of the most important parts of any poker strategy is managing your bankroll, both in a session and over the long term. Creating a budget will prevent you from over-betting with bad hands, and it’s also a good idea to set a limit for yourself before each poker session. This way, you’ll be able to avoid going on tilt, which is a common cause of huge losses in poker. You can also build your comfort with risk-taking by taking small risks in low-stakes games, as this will allow you to recover from a few losses without affecting your overall profit rate.