Poker is a card game in which you bet against other players. The goal is to make the best hand out of the cards you are dealt and the cards on the table.
The rules are simple and can be understood by anyone who has played the game once or twice. There are many variations of the game, and a good knowledge of the basics is essential to become successful at playing poker.
Ante:
Before the cards are dealt, each player must put up a small amount of money called an ante. Once the ante is in place, the dealer deals the first two cards to each player.
Fold:
If you wish to end your hand in the game and concede, you fold by putting all of your cards facedown onto the table.
Call:
If another player bets, you can choose to call and add your own money to the betting pool. You can also raise, which means you increase the amount of money you are betting.
Check:
Some variants of poker allow a player to “check” the hand, which means he stays in without betting and leaves the pot when no other players have bet.
Hand:
A hand is a grouping of five cards in a game of poker. These can be the five cards you are dealt or a combination of your cards and the cards on the table.
High card:
The highest single card in a hand wins the pot. If two players have the same high card, the second highest card breaks the tie.