Poker is a card game in which players bet on the strength of their hand. The highest hand wins the pot. In order to be successful in poker you must learn how to read your opponents and make quick decisions based on your situation. Practice and watch experienced players to develop good instincts. A solid bankroll will help you withstand the swings of the game.

To begin a hand, one or more players must put in a forced bet (the amount varies by game; at our games it is usually a nickel). Then the dealer shuffles and deals cards to the players one at a time, starting with the player to the left of the big blind. As betting goes around the table, each player may choose to call a bet (put in chips equal to the last person’s bet), raise that bet (known as a ‘raise’), or fold their cards and exit the hand.

Each player’s hand must contain at least three cards of the same rank to make a full house, two matching cards of the same rank to make a straight, or five consecutive cards of the same suit to make a flush. The highest ranking hand is a royal flush, consisting of a 10, Jack, Queen, and King of one suit, all in sequence.

You deal yourself a pair of kings off the break and a few players raise. You can ‘call’ and put in a dime, or raise the bet and ‘raise’ it. This is a simple example, but over time, math concepts like frequencies and EV estimation become ingrained in your poker brain and you’ll naturally consider them during hands.