Poker is a card game in which players put up an ante and then get dealt cards. The highest hand wins the pot. If more than one person has a high hand, the higher card breaks the tie.
When a player wants to increase the size of their bet, they say “raise.” The other players must either call this raise or fold. If they fold, then they must place their chips or cash in the center of the table.
The first round of betting starts once everyone has their 2 cards and checks for blackjack. After this betting round begins a 3rd card is dealt face up on the table. This is called the flop. Then another round of betting starts again.
Now the dealer deals a fourth card to the table that anyone can use. This is the turn. Then the final betting round takes place.
A Straight contains 5 consecutive cards of the same suit. A Flush is 5 cards of the same rank, but they can be in a different sequence. A 3 of a kind is three cards of the same rank. A pair is two cards of the same rank. A high card is any card that doesn’t qualify as a pairs, flush, or straight.
A good poker player has a solid understanding of probability. They know how many ways to make a high hand, and they can read other players’ tells (eye movements, idiosyncrasies, betting behavior etc). They also keep a poker journal to practice math and memorize key formulas.
