Poker is a card game of chance and skill that becomes much more than a simple betting game when players are playing for real money. If you’re interested in learning about poker, get a book or start playing with a group of people who know the game.
Each player in a game of poker starts by purchasing a certain amount of chips (the exact number depends on the type of poker). Usually, each white chip is worth one unit of betting; red chips are worth five units; and black chips are worth 10 or 25 units. The first player to act is the one to the left of the dealer. Players reveal their hole cards in turn, trying to beat the highest card on the board with a pair of higher cards or a straight or flush.
When a player wants to increase the amount of betting they can do this by raising their hand. The player to the left can either call the raise or fold.
The player with the highest hand wins the pot. However, if a player loses their hand, they can choose to drop out of the game by dropping a chip in the center of the table. The other players must match this amount in order to continue playing. This can lead to some massive pots – especially when more than one player is holding a strong poker hand! But be careful – playing aggressively can be a dangerous proposition.