Poker is a game that requires significant chance. However, once betting is introduced to the game it becomes a game that is much more based on skill and psychology (that’s not to say there’s no luck involved at all, just that it isn’t nearly as important as it could be).
Each player starts the hand by placing a bet of one or more chips into the pot before they receive their cards. The players to the left of them then decide to either “call” that amount of chips into the pot (if they believe their hand is good enough), raise it or drop out (“fold”).
Once the first round of betting is complete the dealer puts three community cards on the table that everyone can use, this is called the flop. Then the second betting round begins.
At this point, the strongest hand wins the pot. There are several different types of hands, but the highest is a Royal Flush. This is made out of a 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace of the same suit, such as clubs, hearts, diamonds or spades. Other high hands include a Straight, Flush or Four of a Kind.
If you have a strong hand, then you should try to force out weaker hands by raising. This will increase the value of your pot and allow you to make more money in the long run. If you have a weak hand, then it’s best to fold rather than continue to throw your chips into the pot.