The game of poker is an exciting and challenging card game played by two or more players. It can be played in a variety of ways, but the object is always to create a winning hand by betting and raising with other players during one or more betting intervals. The highest hand wins the pot. The game of poker has evolved from a number of earlier vying games, some of which can be traced back to the sixteenth century. Some examples are Belle, Flux & Trente-un (French, 17th – 18th centuries), Post & Pair (English and French, 17th – 19th centuries), Brelan (French, 18th – 19th centuries) and Bouillotte (late 18th – early 19th centuries).
Players begin by placing a small amount of money into the pot called blinds, which is placed by 2 players to the left of the dealer. Once the antes have been placed a round of betting will occur and then the dealer will deal 5 cards face up to the table. These are the community cards that all players can use to make their best five card hand.
After the flop is revealed there is another round of betting. Once again it is important to analyze the board and your own personal cards. A strong pocket king or queen is no match for an ace on the flop and you should be cautious even with a good hand. Pay attention to other players and try to read them. This doesn’t mean observing subtle physical poker tells but rather noticing patterns such as calling every bet or only raising their hands when they have a strong one.
