Poker is a game of chance, but it’s also a game of skill. It requires a high degree of discipline to stay committed to your strategy. This is especially important in games against friends. It takes a lot of patience to learn the game, and you can only profit from it by making smart decisions based on probability and psychology.
When you have a strong hand it’s often best to play it as straightforwardly as possible. This will give your opponents a good impression of your confidence and allow you to capitalize on their mistakes. It’s important to remember that your opponents aren’t trying to outwit you, they’re just making mistakes. When they make a mistake and you win the pot don’t try to rub it in their face – it’s part of the game and it makes for a fun and exciting learning experience.
It’s also okay to sit out a hand when you have a weak hand. However, you should only do this if you’re confident that your opponent won’t call. If you are confident that your hand will be the strongest at the table then you should raise. This will force weaker hands out of the pot and increase the value of your pot. If you don’t think your hand is the strongest at the table then you should fold.