Poker is a card game in which players independently try to assemble the highest-ranked hand of cards. The player with the highest-ranked hand wins the pot – all the money that has been bet during the hand. The pot is usually paid out in cash or in poker chips. The game is typically played with a minimum of 10 players.
The game begins with the players posting a small amount of money, called blinds. These blinds are forced bets that help to keep the action alive in the early stages of the hand. Players can call, raise or fold a hand. If a player folds he forfeits his chips to the dealer and does not participate in the next betting rounds.
Once the blinds have been posted, the dealer deals everyone five cards. The player to the left of the button has the option to act first and is referred to as the “button” position. The button position moves one spot clockwise after each hand.
Early positions are weak and you should avoid playing a lot of hands from there. If you do play a hand, be aggressive and don’t limp. This way you can bluff more effectively and get paid off on your strong hands.
On later streets, try to play a wider range of hands. You can also use your position to manipulate the pot on later betting streets by raising if you think that your opponent is bluffing or that his showdown value is low.