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How to Play Poker

Poker

Poker is a card game that can be played with two to 14 players. Each player has a set amount of chips to bet with each round. The object is to make the highest ranking poker hand at the end of the betting rounds. The highest hand wins the pot, which is the aggregate of all bets placed in a particular round.

Each player is dealt two cards and then five community cards are revealed (the “flop”). Each player aims to form the best 5 card poker hand using their own two personal cards and the community cards. The highest hand is a royal flush, which consists of four matching cards of the same rank in one suit. The second highest is a straight, which consists of five consecutive cards of the same rank. The lowest hand is a pair.

When you play poker you must have a good understanding of the value of your own poker hand and what your opponent’s range is. This is a key factor in your decision making, ie are you raising for value or bluffing?

Try to mix up your style and never be predictable. If your opponents always know what you are holding then they will never pay you off on your big hands and will easily call any bluffs. Keeping your opponent guessing will also help you get more value from your strong hands and allow you to bluff more effectively when the time is right.