How to Play Poker Safely
Whether you’re an amateur just trying to get by at home or a million-dollar pro on the tour, poker can be one of the most fun games you can play. However, it’s important to know that there’s a risk to every reward in life and poker is no different. Pursuing safety can lead to a lot of lost money and missing out on opportunities when a moderate amount of risk could yield huge rewards.
To begin playing a hand you must first decide what action you want to take. There are two actions you can take: Check (match the previous player’s bet & stay in the round) or Raise (bet more than the last player to win the pot). To start betting you must say “call” or “I call” which means that you will raise the previous player’s bet by matching their amount.
Once the betting is complete three cards are dealt face-up on the table called the flop. These are community cards that anyone can use. Then another round of betting takes place. If you still have a poker hand you must now show your cards and the player with the highest ranked hand wins the pot.
A good poker player should be able to calculate pot odds and percentages quickly, read other players, and adjust their strategy accordingly. They should also be able to quit a session if they are feeling frustration or fatigue. This will save them a ton of money in the long run.