Poker is a card game in which players make wagers and try to get the best hand. The player who has the best hand wins the pot. There are a few important things to remember before you play:
Ante – an initial contribution, usually small, to the pot to start the hand.
Fold – to get out of your hand and save your money. Often, folding is the right thing to do. It’s easy to think that you put a certain amount of money into the pot, so you might as well “play it out.” However, most beginner players learn quickly that you can lose a lot more by betting more than you have in a bad hand.
Call – if the person to your left bets, you can say call and put the same amount of money in the pot as him.
Raise – if you think you have the best hand, you can raise the amount that you bet by one or more increments.
Position – being last to act gives you more information about your opponents and increases your chances of winning the pot. It also makes it more difficult for other players to pick up on your bluffing.