Poker is a card game where players wager chips (representing money) on the outcome of a hand. Usually, the player with the best five-card poker hand wins the pot. In the case of a tie, the dealer wins. There are many different variations of the game, but they all follow the same basic rules.
Say “call” to place your chips in the pot equal to the last player’s bet or raise. For example, if the player to your left raised $10, you can call by saying “I call.”
A good poker game is about reading your opponents. Learn their tells, including their eye movements, idiosyncrasies and betting behavior. This will help you determine whether or not they’re holding a strong hand.
Avoid getting too attached to strong hands like pocket kings or queens. A good flop can mean the end of any such hand if there are lots of other straight or flush cards on the board.
If you have a great pair of hands, bet aggressively and make your opponent pay to see them. There’s nothing worse than a pair of Kings that aren’t supported by solid betting.
Once the first round of betting is over, the dealer deals three cards face up on the table that everyone can use. These are called the flop. After the flop, players will bet again. The player with the highest hand after the flop wins the pot. If you don’t have a strong enough hand, it’s best to fold.
