In poker the game is played between two or more players and involves betting into a central pot. The player with the highest hand wins the pot. Players may fold, call or raise during the betting process. Earlier vying games include Belle, Flux and Trente-un (French, 17th – 18th centuries), Post and Pair (English and American, 18th century to present) and Brelan and Bouillotte (French, late 18th – early 19th centuries).
Before the first betting round begins players will typically ‘ante’ something into the pot. This amount varies by game but is usually around a nickel. Once everyone has antes in the pot betting starts. Say for example you deal yourself a pair of kings, not great but still pretty good. You would check to see if the dealer has blackjack. If he does, you must pass the turn to the player on your left. If he doesn’t then it’s your turn to bet. You can choose to hit, stay or double up.
If the player on your left raises then you can either fold and give up your cards or call to match his bet size. If you choose to call then your next move is to decide whether or not to raise again. If you do raise then other players can call your raise, fold and give up their cards or make a raise of their own.
After the second betting round the dealer will deal three more cards face up to the table. These are known as community cards and anyone can use them to make a stronger poker hand. In this stage of the game you will also be dealt a fifth card called the river which will reveal your final poker hand.
The strongest hands in poker consist of a high pair, a straight, a full house or a flush. If no one has a high pair or a straight then the highest kicker wins. A high kicker is a card that beats all other cards except for the higher pair and can break ties in a poker hand.
Having a strong poker hand is important but so is knowing how to read your opponents. A lot of the information you can pick up about your opponents comes from their body language and facial expressions. Look for tells like shallow breathing, a sigh or nostril flaring. A nervous expression or a hand over their mouth is a good indication that the player is bluffing.
The final step in the poker hand is the showdown. Each player will reveal their poker hand and the person with the best hand wins the pot. If you have a high hand then you can continue to bet and hope that other players will call your bets or even raise them again. If you have a low hand then you should just fold and give up your cards. It’s important to keep records of your gambling winnings and pay your taxes to avoid any legal problems.
