Poker is a card game in which players place bets on the outcome of a hand. The value of a hand depends on the combination of cards and their mathematical frequency, but it may be improved by bluffing, in which case the opponents must call the bet or concede (fold).
Each player is dealt two cards face down and then a single community card is placed in front of them. Then the betting begins. If you have a strong hand you should try to get more money into the pot by betting at it, this will force weaker hands out and increase the value of your hand.
There are several terms you will need to know when playing poker. These include:
Ante – the first amount of money all players must put up before they can play. Call – to call a bet means that you are putting in the same amount as the person before you. Raise – to raise your bet means that you are adding more chips into the pot than the previous player.
Fold – to fold is to throw your cards away. This is the best way to save your money and stay alive in a bad hand.
Improve Your Range – While most beginners stick to strong starting hands, if you want to be a serious winner it’s important that you widen your range of hands. This will make it easier to pick up the pots you should be winning.
