If you’ve ever played poker before, you’ve probably noticed that there are hundreds of different variations. The rules for each variant vary from casino to casino, but the basic game mechanics remain the same. The first step in the game is to make an ante, or small bet, before the round begins. Once the ante is made, the dealer will deal each player two cards, or “hole cards.” Players can then decide whether to make a bet, fold, check, or raise.
One of the most important aspects of balancing your range is to remember that you need a good balance between value hands and bluffs. This concept is commonly wrapped around a discussion of GTO, or general technique of indifference. To understand balancing your range, consider going all-in on the river. Your opponent would get a 2:1 on a call, and he would have two value hands for every bluff. Then, you wouldn’t be able to add any more hero calls and folds.
In general, a game of poker is a competition between two players, and the highest hand wins. Often, players will place their money into the pot voluntarily or in order to bluff another player. In a tie game, the highest hand wins, and any ties will be broken by the high card, unless the player is holding a pair. But if both players have high pairs, then the tie is broken by the second highest hand.