Poker is a card game in which players wager money into the pot and the highest hand wins. To begin a hand you must ‘ante’ something (amount varies by game, in our games it is usually a nickel) and then be dealt cards. When it is your turn to bet you can call, raise or fold. If you raise then other players must match or increase your bet to stay in the hand. The goal is to make the highest five card poker hand.
There are 52 cards in a deck, divided into four suits of 13 ranks each. The Ace is the highest card and the 2 is the lowest. There are also two unrelated pairs, three of a kind, straights and flushes. A pair is two cards of the same rank, three of a kind is three cards of the same rank and a straight is 5 consecutive cards of one suit but they can skip in rank or be composed of more than one suit.
To improve your poker skills it is important to develop quick instincts. Practice and watch experienced players to build these instincts. It is best to start at the lowest limits and work your way up to higher stakes. This will allow you to play versus the weakest players and learn strategy at an affordable rate. It is also recommended that you only play with money that you are willing to lose and track your wins and losses to determine whether you are improving.
