The Basics of Poker
Poker is a card game in which the player makes bets on the strength of his or her own hand and those of the other players. A winning hand consists of five cards: the two in your own hand plus four on the table (the “community”). The rules of poker vary slightly from one game to another, but all involve betting and raising. Players can bet in a number of ways: “call,” “raise,” or “fold.”
A standard 52-card deck is used; some games allow the use of jokers as wild cards. Two to seven players can play. The dealer shuffles the cards, the player to his or her right cuts, and the first round of betting begins. Depending on the rules, you may be dealt additional cards or your current cards can be replaced after each round of betting.
If the person to your right raises, say “call” if you want to match their bet, or place a bet of equal value in the center of the table. If the person to your left does not raise, say “fold.”
The divide between break-even beginner players and big-time winners is usually much smaller than many people think. Most of the difference has to do with learning to view poker in a more cold, detached, mathematical, and logical way. The more you learn to think like a winner, the better you will play. It takes time to develop these skills, but they can make the difference between a losing player and a winning one.