Poker is a card game in which players place chips into a “pot” and then compete to form the highest ranked hand of cards. While the outcome of any given hand involves some luck, a player’s long-run expectations are determined by actions that they choose on the basis of probability, psychology and game theory.
When a hand begins each player must put an amount of money, called the ante, into the pot before betting can begin. Then the dealer deals each player five cards face-down. Each player then has the choice to call, raise or fold. A player who calls puts the same amount of chips into the pot as the person before them, while a player who raises puts in more than that amount of chips. Finally, a player who folds puts their cards down and is out of the hand.
As you play poker you will need to learn how to observe your opponents and understand their actions. You should be able to categorize each player into one of the following groups:
Tight – Tight players usually fold early and don’t raise very often. Loose – loose players tend to raise pre-flop from late position and are willing to see the flop for cheap with a speculative hand. The best way to improve your poker skills is to practice and watch experienced players in action to develop quick instincts. It is important to review your own poker hands too, not just those that went badly, but also the ones that did well to try and work out what you did correctly in them.
