Poker is a card game in which players make bets on the strength of their hands. The game is usually played with a minimum of two players and a maximum of 10 players. The dealer shuffles the cards, and each player puts in an amount of chips into the pot that they cannot win back. These mandatory bets are called blinds and give the players an incentive to play.
After the players receive their 2 hole cards the dealer deals 3 community cards face up on the table, this is known as the flop. Then there is another round of betting where the players can raise or fold. After the second round of betting is complete the dealer places a fourth card on the table that anyone can use, this is called the turn.
At each betting interval a player must either Call the amount raised by the last player, or Raise it higher. If a player is not willing to call or raise the amount then they must fold their hand.
Always bet your strongest hands, this will force weaker hands out of the pot and increase your chances of winning. It is also a good idea to try and guess what your opponent has in their hand. This can be done by observing their betting pattern and body language. For example if a player raises a bet before you it is likely they have a strong hand, while a player that checks every round probably has a weak one.
