Poker is a card game that requires quite a bit of skill. While there is a little luck involved, most of the winning hands are based on a combination of skill and psychology.

The first thing to learn about poker is the basic rules of play. You must always be aware of what cards are in other players’ hands. This will help you determine how strong of a hand they have, and it will also give you an idea of how much to bet on your own.

Another important aspect of the game is learning how to read other players’ tells. These are unconscious habits that reveal information about a player’s cards. They can be as simple as a gesture or as complex as body language.

You should also pay attention to the chip stacks around the table. If you notice that an opponent is short stacked, they will be desperate to make a move and can be taken advantage of. On the other hand, if an opponent is sitting on a huge stack, it will be very hard for you to beat them.

Finally, you should keep a file of poker hands that are relevant to the subject matter of your book. These can be hands that you have played or hands from another source. This will give you a lot of practical examples to draw from when writing your book. It will also help you remember the basic rules of poker better.