Poker is a game of skill and chance, but players have developed a variety of strategies to increase their chances of winning. A good poker strategy should take into account a variety of factors, including position and hand strength, but also the bet size and stack sizes of your opponents. Beginners should also pay attention to their opponent’s behavior and look for tells, which are not only physical gestures but can include the way they fiddle with their chips or ring.

When playing poker, only gamble with money you can afford to lose. This will help you not only control your losses, but also learn to bet more conservatively and avoid losing too much in the future. If you’re playing in a live casino, it’s often possible to ask the floor manager to move you to a different table, or even exit the game altogether.

Another important poker tip is to always play in position. This allows you to see your opponents’ actions before making your own decision, and can provide key information about how strong or weak their hand is.

If your opponent has a high kicker, or an unsuited low card, you should usually fold. These hands offer poor odds of winning, and should only be played if you’re confident that you can make a strong bluff. Otherwise, you can easily fold to a raise and improve your chances of getting a better hand. For this reason, good poker players keep a detailed record of their wins and losses, to analyze how they are performing and tweak their strategies accordingly.