The Basics of Poker
Poker is a card game played with chips that have different values. A white chip, for example, is worth the minimum ante or bet; red chips are usually worth two or more whites; blue chips are worth ten or more whites, and so on. Players buy in for a set number of chips at the beginning of the game. The cards are dealt to each player in rotation around the table, with the person whose turn it is to deal being called the dealer.
Depending on the rules of the game, some players must place an initial amount into the pot before the cards are dealt, which is called a forced bet. This is in addition to any antes and blinds. A player may choose to call the bet, raise it by putting in more chips than the amount raised before him, or simply check (stay in the game without raising).
In Poker, the best five-card hand wins the pot. The highest hand is a royal flush, consisting of a king, queen, jack, and ace of the same suit. Three of a kind is the second-highest hand, followed by two pair, and then a straight.
Bluffing is a key element of the game, and is often employed as a way to make the other players think you have a strong hand. Some classic tells include shallow breathing, sighing, flaring nostrils, eyes watering, and shaking hands. A hand over the mouth or nose indicates that you are trying to conceal a smile.