Poker is a card game with multiple betting rounds and a final showdown where the winner is decided by each player revealing their hand. It is a game that requires both an intuitive feel for when to take risk and an ability to weigh options based on the current table dynamics. As such, it can be a great way to build up your comfort level with taking risks and learning how to think about risk on a larger scale.
Each player starts with a set amount of chips and may buy in for more as the round progresses. Each chip has a specific value; for example, a white chip is worth a certain minimum ante or bet and a red chip is worth a different amount. Players can fold (drop out of the round), call (match another player’s bet), raise (bet more than a previous player’s bet), or check (put no money into the pot).
The game is played with cards that are dealt to each player in a clockwise fashion from the dealer. After the flop, turn, and river, the player in first position is to act first. Each action reveals a bit of information to other players, helping them to build a story about the type of hand they hold.
A strong poker hand is comprised of four matching cards or better. A straight is five cards of consecutive rank but from more than one suit; a flush is five cards of the same suit; and three of a kind is three matching cards of the same rank.