Poker is a card game played by two or more players, and involves betting on the outcome of a hand. A player wins the pot (the sum of all bets made in a round) when they have the best hand. The game may also involve bluffing, which is the practice of making a bet without having a good hand in order to win money from other players.
Each player places an ante, or buys in, for a certain amount of chips before the cards are dealt. There are several different types of chips; a white chip, for example, is worth one unit, and red chips are worth five units. Players can choose to check, raise, call or fold. If a player wishes to check, they must say so out loud. Otherwise, they can tap the table or use non-verbal cues to indicate their intention.
When a player is in turn to bet, they can say “raise” to put more money into the pot than a previous player’s bet. They can also say “call” to match a previous player’s bet, or just fold if they don’t want to stay in the hand.
It’s important to learn how to read other players and watch for “tells.” Tells aren’t just physical cues, like fidgeting with a ring or chips; they can include the way a person plays. A player who has always called but suddenly raises is likely holding an unbeatable hand.
