Poker is a card game where players bet based on the value of their hand. A player with the highest hand wins the pot – all bets made at each round – either by winning the showdown or forcing opponents to concede much before the showdown. There is a large element of luck in poker, but over time the application of skill can eliminate most of that luck.
After the dealer has dealt two cards to each player, betting begins. A player can Call (match the previous bet), Raise or Fold.
The second stage of the hand is called the Turn. An additional card is revealed to form a total of four cards face up on the table. This is the time to look for a strong draw. A player with a weak hand should always check and then fold. A player with a strong hand should bet aggressively to force the opponent into calling or raising and hopefully making their strong hand by the river.
A player who has a strong poker hand will be able to read the other players easily. A good player will be able to identify conservative players from aggressive ones by their betting patterns. Conservative players tend to bet very low early in a hand and can be bluffed into folding. Aggressive players will often raise their bets in the first few rounds but will not stay in a hand very long when they have a strong one.
