Poker is a card game in which players bet chips that are worth different values. Usually, one white chip is equal to the minimum bet; red chips are each worth five whites. Each player has to ante up before the betting phase begins. If you say “raise,” it adds more money to the pool, and players have to decide whether to call or fold.
In the first betting phase, called the pre-flop, each player is dealt 2 cards, face-down (hidden from other players). These are known as that player’s hole or pocket cards. Next, 3 cards are revealed at the center of the table, which are called the flop. These are community cards that everyone can use to make their best 5-card hand.
If you’re holding a strong hand, you should raise before the flop to force weaker hands to fold and increase the value of your pot. However, if you think you have a bad hand, don’t be afraid to fold. Sometimes, even a weak hand can win if you have good bluffing skills and a little luck.
The player with the best 5-card hand wins all of the money that was bought in as a buy-in at the table. The other players share the remaining money. There are often rules for how this money is distributed over a number of rounds. Sometimes a winner will run out of money before the game is over. In these cases, the winning player may agree to split the pot.
