Poker is a card game played by two or more players. It is a game of chance and skill, where the object is to win the pot — the aggregate of all bets made during any one deal. There are many different forms of poker, each with slightly differing rules. In all of them, however, there are a few basic principles that all players should understand.
First, each player must place chips into the pot — which represents money — according to the rules of the game being played. This is known as “calling” a bet. A player may also choose to raise the bet, or “raise,” adding more chips to the betting pool than the previous player did. If a player does not call or raise, they must either drop (fold) their hand and exit the betting round, or bet small amounts to stay in the pot.
Once the players have all called the bets, they are each dealt 2 cards — these are known as their hole or pocket cards. Then 3 cards are dealt face up in the center of the table, these are known as the flop and they are community cards that all players can use to make their own 5-card poker hand. There is another round of betting after the flop is dealt.
If you find yourself holding a bad hand after the flop, it is usually best to fold. However, if your luck turns and you have a good poker hand, bluffing can be a great way to increase the value of your pot!
