A card game where players bet chips and money to win a hand. The aim is to use the cards you’re dealt to make a poker hand, either by making the best one you can or by convincing other players that you have the best hand (bluffing). There are many different poker variations but they all have some common rules.
When it’s your turn to bet you can say “call” to place your bet equal to the last person’s. For example, if the player before you raised his or her bet by $10 and it’s your turn you would say “I call” and then place the same amount of chips in the pot. You can also raise your own bet – raising by more than the player before you – by saying “raise” or something similar.
After the first betting round is complete the dealer puts three more cards face-up on the table that everyone can use (these are called community cards). This is known as the flop. The second betting round starts and you can raise your bet if you think you have a strong hand, or fold if you don’t.
A good poker player is able to read other players and pick up on subtle physical poker tells like scratching the nose or playing nervously with their chips. However, a large part of reading other players comes from understanding betting patterns. Players who bet frequently and consistently are usually playing strong hands, while those who fold often have weak ones.