Poker is a card game played by two or more players. It’s a game of chance, but it’s also a game of skill and psychology. The more you play, the better you’ll get.
You must ante something (amount varies by game, our games are typically a nickel) to be dealt cards. Then you can call or raise a bet when it’s your turn. Say “call” if you want to match the last person’s bet and put the same amount into the pot. Or, say “raise” to add more money to the betting pool and force other players to call or fold.
Once the first round of betting is complete, the dealer puts three cards face up on the table that anyone can use. This is called the flop. Then there’s a second round of betting. Once that’s done, the dealer puts a fourth card on the table that everyone can use (this is called the turn).
A straight contains 5 consecutive cards of the same suit. A full house consists of 3 matching cards of one rank and 2 matching cards of another. A flush is any five cards that are consecutive but not in order (and one of them must be the high card).
You can also make a three of a kind (three matching cards) or two pair (two distinct pairs). High card breaks ties.
There is an old saying in poker: “Play the player, not the cards.” That means that a hand’s strength or weakness depends on how it fits into the overall situation at the table. For example, if you have two 10s and someone else has A-A, your tens will lose 82% of the time. If, on the other hand, you have two 8s and a player has J-J, your eights will only lose 20% of the time.
It’s important to learn to read your opponents. Many poker “reads” don’t involve subtle physical tells, but are based on patterns. For example, if you notice that a player is calling every bet then they’re probably holding some pretty strong cards. On the other hand, if you see them folding a lot then they’re probably holding some weak ones. By learning to read your opponent’s behavior you can gain a huge advantage. This is called playing the player, and it’s a vital part of winning poker. Practice and watch experienced players to develop your own quick instincts. Good luck!