Poker is a card game of chance and skill, played by two or more players. The object is to form the highest ranking hand according to card rankings in order to win the pot, or total of bets placed by all players.
The game was first introduced in the United States in the 1860s, and quickly spread up and down the Mississippi River on riverboats that carried goods to and from ports. It eventually became a popular pastime of Civil War soldiers and later, a staple in Wild West saloons.
Players place bets by putting chips (representing money) in the pot in turn. Each player has the right to raise, call or fold. The player to the left of the dealer starts the betting interval.
Reading other players
It is a common saying that poker is a game of people. That’s because it takes a certain kind of person to play poker well. You must be able to read your opponents and pick up on their moods, body language and tells.
You must also be able to recognize the difference between a player who is afraid of losing versus someone who just doesn’t care. The last thing you want to do is bluff against the latter. That could backfire big time, especially if your opponent sees that you have a good pair and thinks you’re not bluffing. That’s why it is important to know when to fold. Otherwise, you might end up throwing a lot of good money after bad hands.
