Poker is one of the most popular card games in the world. It is a game of strategy, but it is also a test of human emotion. The ability to bluff in poker, and in life, can bolster or tank your chances of winning. But bluffing is risky, and you must weigh your chances of winning against the amount of money you’re risking.

Whether you play no-limit holdem, pot limit Omaha, or Chinese poker, good strategy starts with careful analysis of your opponent. In a live game, you can study physical tells, but online players must rely on analyzing their opponents’ behavior and how they make decisions. It takes time to develop a strategy, but you should always be refining it.

It’s also important to play within your bankroll. If you’re playing with money you can afford to lose, you’ll be making more rational decisions. If you’re worried about losing your entire buy-in, you’re out of your element and need to reevaluate your strategy.

As you learn the game, try to play in position as often as possible. This will give you more information about the other players and let you control the size of the pot. If you have a marginal hand and it’s your turn to act, check rather than betting. Then, if the turn or river improves your hand, you can continue without adding more money to the pot. This is a better strategy than hoping to luck into the best hand, because that will only cost you more money in the long run.