Learn the Basics of Poker
Poker is a card game that requires a mix of skill, intelligence and luck. In most games, the highest ranked hand wins the pot. The highest ranked hands are the Royal Flush (10-Jack-Queen-King-Ace of the same suit), Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Two Pair and High Card.
Each player starts with 2 cards and then the dealer deals a third card face-up on the board which all players can use, this is called the flop. Each player then has a choice to check, call, raise or fold their cards and money into the pot.
When a player says “raise,” they put in more chips than the last player, and the other players must either match that amount (call), raise higher or fold. If a player does not want to make a call or raise they say “drop,” and they are out of the betting round.
Position is very important in poker as it gives you simple, cheap bluffing opportunities and allows you to make more accurate value bets. Many players get caught up in studying too much, watching a cbet video on Monday, reading an article about 3bets on Tuesday and then listening to a podcast on tilt management on Wednesday, but this can lead to confusion and missed opportunity.
Watching poker can help you understand the rules and etiquette, but it’s best to practice yourself to develop quick instincts. Try to focus on a few different games and observe how experienced players play to build your own style and strategy.