Poker is a card game where players bet with chips (representing money) in a pot. Players can also call, raise or fold based on their cards and the action around them. If a player wins the pot, they win all of the money that has been bet in that round.
Regardless of whether you’re winning or losing, the objective of poker is to extract maximum value from your winning hands and minimise losses from your losing hands. This is known as MinMax (minimise losses – maximise wins). The best way to do this is by utilising bluffing strategies. However, it’s important to understand that there are times when bluffing is not optimal.
Before a hand is dealt, 2 mandatory bets called blinds must be made by the two players to the left of the dealer. These bets create a pot that can be won and they are split into a small and large blind so that there is an incentive for all players to play.
After each round of betting, the remaining players reveal their cards and a showdown ensues. The highest ranking hand wins the pot. The rank of a hand is determined by the number and suit of the cards. The higher the number and suit of the cards, the better the hand. If more than one hand has the same rank, it is a tie. The most common tie is a pair of high cards. This is sometimes called “pair plus.” This is a good hand to have when you’re facing a weak opponent because it will often make them fold if bluffed against.
