Poker is a card game played by two or more players. Each player has two personal cards and five community cards. In a betting round, each player has the option to place a bet by placing chips into the pot equal to or greater than any previously placed bets, call, raise, or drop out of the game (fold). The winner is determined at a showdown when all players reveal their cards and the best hand wins the pot. In addition to this basic form, poker can be played with different rules and variations that change the way the game is played and analyzed.
Poker began as a bluffing game. It evolved from a variety of earlier vying games including Primero (17th – 18th centuries, Germany), Fleming’s game (18th century to present), and Brag (18th century to the present).
In poker, every action a player makes (calling, raising, checking, or folding) communicates something about their hand to their opponents. This information is important because it gives them bits of information that can help them build a story about your hand’s strength or weakness.
Bluffs should be used sparingly and strategically. They are a powerful tool to have in your arsenal but they should be used when the reward is big enough. If you’re bluffing for small pots, you aren’t making money and you may be hurting your long term results. This is especially true if you’re playing against more advanced opponents.
