A card game involving betting, poker has many different variants. The objective is to win the pot, or the total amount of bets made in a single deal. This is usually done by having the highest hand, but can also be accomplished by bluffing.
In most games, each player buys in with a number of chips. The chips have different colors and values, the white chip being worth the lowest amount (an ante or blind bet). Each player must contribute a minimum number of chips to the pot in order to continue playing.
After the antes and blind bets have been placed, the dealer shuffles and deals all players 2 cards face down. A round of betting will now begin, starting with the player to the left of the dealer.
There are several betting intervals during a hand, and each player must place a bet that is at least equal to the contribution of the player before him. This is called being “in the pot.”
Bluffing is an important part of poker, but it’s not something you want to be doing too much of as a beginner. Especially when you’re still learning relative hand strength, you’ll make it harder to read your opponents.
The most important thing to remember is that your opponent’s bet sizing and stack size should dictate your strategy. When you’re short stacked, it’s best to play tighter, and prioritize high hand strength. If you’re long stacked, you can afford to play more speculative hands, and bluff less often.