Poker is a card game played in many countries around the world. It is a highly-competitive game that can be very stressful for players.

Often, players will lose more money than they win during a poker session. That is why it is important to know your limits and understand the rules of play.

How to Play the Game

Before each round of betting, each player is required to make a contribution to the pot, called an ante. A player may fold, which means that he does not participate in that betting interval; call, which is to match the previous highest bet; or raise, which is to increase the amount of money in the pot.

Betting Intervals

Each Poker deal has two or more betting intervals, each of which lasts until a player either puts in exactly as much as the previous bettor or drops out. After each betting interval, the best hand is determined, and the pot is awarded to that player.

Cards & rankings

In typical poker games, the best hand is the one that contains the highest-valued cards. This can vary depending on the rules of the variant being played.

Tells

Every player has unconscious habits that reveal what they think about their hands, or that let the other players know something about their hands. These tells can be as simple as eye contact and facial expressions, or as complex as body language and gestures.