The Basics of Poker
Almost all poker games are played with a standard 52 card deck (although some use multiple packs or add wild cards). The cards are ranked from high to low (Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and Ace). The highest hand wins. Each game also specifies the suits (spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs). Some games even have different types of wild cards.
Players are required to make an initial investment in the pot (the amount varies by game) called an ante or blind bet before the dealer deals any cards. Once all players have invested some money into the pot the dealer shuffles the cards, then deals them one at a time, starting with the player to his or her left. After all the cards have been dealt, a betting interval commences.
Each betting interval lasts for some number of turns, and at the end of each betting interval all players’ hands are revealed. The player with the best five-card poker hand takes the entire pot.
When the betting ends and it is your turn to bet, you can choose to bet the same as the last player or to raise the bet. If you are raising the bet you must place your chips into the pot equal to the total contribution of the player before you. If you call the previous bet you must place your chips in the pot and say “call” or “I call”.
After all the betting rounds are complete the dealer puts a third card face up on the table that everyone can use, this is called the flop. Now each player has the chance to bet again and if they have a good enough hand they can raise their bets and perhaps force other players to fold.
The dealer then puts a fifth card on the board that anyone can use, this is called the river. Now again everyone can check, raise or fold their hands. If more than one player remains with a poker hand after the final betting round then those hands are revealed and the player with the highest poker hand wins the pot.
It is important to be able to control your emotions during poker. If you lose control and start bluffing with a weak poker hand, you could throw all your hard work out the window. This will only cost you money in the long run and it will also hurt your reputation. Remember that everybody started out as a beginner and it is your responsibility to keep your emotions in check and stick to your strategy, even when it’s not going your way. If you do this, you will see improvements in your game over time. Good luck!