Poker is a card game in which players compete to form the best possible hand of cards, in order to win the pot at the end of each betting round. The pot is the total of all bets placed during a deal. Winning the pot requires either having a high-ranking poker hand or placing a bet that forces other players to fold.
Players begin the game by putting in an initial amount of money, called the ante or blinds, into the pot before the cards are dealt. When everyone has their two hole cards they start a round of betting, starting with the player to the left of the dealer. Once the betting is over, the dealer puts three community cards face up on the table that anyone can use, called the flop. Then another round of betting begins, this time starting with the player to the left of the button.
Raising is when you increase the size of the previous bet, either to match it or even go all in, meaning that you’re betting your entire stack of chips. You can also say “call” to put in the same amount as the player who raised, or “fold” if you don’t think your hand is good enough.
Being a good poker player requires mental toughness. You need to be able to accept bad luck and not let it ruin your day, as well as stay focused when you’re winning. Watch videos of Phil Ivey taking bad beats, and learn to keep your emotions in check.