Poker is a card game that requires a lot of psychology and risk management. While it’s true that there is a fair amount of chance in the game, players can also win by learning basic rules and using strategy.
First, a player must buy in for a set number of chips. A white chip, or light-colored one, is worth the minimum ante; a red chip is worth five whites, and a blue chip is usually worth 10 or 20 whites. Players then put these into a pot, called the pot of chips, along with any forced bets made.
After the ante and blind bets are in place the dealer shuffles and cuts the cards. He then deals two cards to each player in the hand, starting with the person on his left. The players may then call (put in the same amount as a previous player) or raise the bet. When a player calls, they are saying that they want to stay in the hand and are willing to pay more to do so. If a player wants to raise, they are saying that they want to increase the amount of money in the pot by the amount they are raising.
After the first round of betting is complete the dealer will put three more cards face-up on the table for everyone to use (called the flop). Another round of betting then occurs, beginning with the player to his or her left.