A card game in which players wager money against one another, with the player having the highest hand winning the pot. Depending on the game, one or more forced bets are required before the cards are dealt; these are usually in the form of an ante and/or blind bets.
After the ante bets have been made, each player is dealt 2 cards face-down (hidden from other players) which are called that player’s hole or pocket. A betting phase then begins, starting with the player to the left of the big blind. Then 3 cards are dealt face up in the center of the table; these are called the flop. There is another betting phase, beginning with the player to the left of the button.
Players then take turns revealing their hands, with the first player to do so being said to “reveal.” A player who chooses not to reveal his or her hand may continue betting into the pot until he or she places into the pot at least as many chips as any player that came before him; otherwise, that player will be said to have “dropped” (folded), and will no longer compete for the pot.
When deciding whether to call a bet, it is important to balance the pot odds with the potential return on your investment. For example, if the odds of hitting your desired draw are greater than 11-to-1, it is correct to call. However, if the odds are much lower, it is correct to fold.
