Read them look at faces this is my experience we never did play in big money we have chips and the loser pay diner once a month nothing big just for fun
Think that only poker and blackjack can be play on smart way roulette is always house win to big odds on house
Poker is basically skill-game gambling which need an abillity and knowledge to play, this actually more profit if you good played it. and for some factor can decide the game result, like you said your friend face when playing, your skill and luck(this factor can't inseparable to any gambling games).
I personally not good in poker, so my smart way to play gambling is use an amount which i can afford to lose and usually i using "scalping" strategy, earn small profit constantly.