Poker is a card game played by 2 or more people. Each player “buys in” by putting up a number of chips. Usually, a white chip is worth the minimum ante or bet; a red chip is worth five whites; and blue chips are worth 10 or more whites. When you make a bet, it’s important to know the value of your chips and how much other players are betting before you. If you’re not sure how much to bet, ask a fellow player or a dealer.
Once everyone has two cards, the first round of betting begins. Each player must put in the same amount of money as the player to their left. This creates a pot and encourages competition.
In the next phase, the flop is dealt. This is when everyone finds out if they have a good hand. For example, if you have pocket 7’s and the flop is 6-8-6, then your hand is the best possible at that moment – called trip sevens. However, if the turn is a 4, then your hand becomes weaker and your odds of winning diminish.
After the flop, a river is dealt. This is the last chance for a player to improve their hand and increase their chances of winning. In the end, the winner is the person with the strongest poker hand. This is determined by the strength of each player’s cards and their position at the table.
