Poker is a card game played between two or more players. It is a game of chance and strategy, where the element of luck can either bolster or tank even the best player’s hand. It is also a fascinating study of human nature.

Unlike most games, poker is not a game of pure skill; however, there are several key skills that a good player must possess to become a consistent winner. Among these are stamina, focus and mental discipline. Players must also commit to studying their game and choosing the proper limits and game variations for their bankrolls.

Another important aspect of the game is knowing how to read a player’s tells. A tell is the unconscious habits that a player exhibits during a hand, such as eye contact, facial expressions and body language. While tells are more important in big bet poker, they are not as critical when playing limit poker.

The first step in writing a book about Poker is to decide on its focus. Once a topic has been chosen it is a good idea to start keeping a file of Poker hands that are relevant to the subject matter. This can be a mixture of real hands you have played and other poker books that contain examples of great Poker hands. Then, as you begin to write, include lots of anecdotes that can illustrate the topic and help readers better understand the intricacies of the game.