The Basics of Poker
Poker is a fun, exciting, and thrilling game that’s mainly about skill and strategy. It’s a great way to spend an hour or two with friends and family, and if you’re lucky you might win some money in the process!
Rules and Basics
The first thing you need to know about playing poker is that there are some standard terms that you’ll hear around the table. These include ante, call, raise, check and fold.
Ante – this is the first, usually small, amount of money that each player puts up when they wish to be dealt into a hand. It is also the minimum amount that can be called and folded in a hand, and everyone must make a bet of at least this amount before the cards are dealt.
Call – this is when you make a bet equal to the previous bet. You can also call and increase the size of your bet if you think you have a good hand, but it is important that you do not over-call.
Raise – this is when you make an additional bet, which is a sign of strength. When you raise, you can only increase the size of your bet by a certain percentage, and it has to be made in one motion.
Betting is a sign of strength in poker, so if you want to get more chips into the pot, it’s important to bet when you have a strong hand. It’s also a good idea to try and bluff other players out of the pot, as this can be an effective tactic to gain advantage.