The game of poker is a card game with many variants. In each, players make forced bets, called an ante or blind bets, then are dealt cards. They may then either call the bet, raise it, or drop (fold). At the end of each betting round all remaining chips are gathered into a central pot.
Observe other players
You can learn a lot about relative hand strength by just watching what your opponents do at the table. This helps you understand what types of hands to play and when to bluff.
Fold if you have a weak hand
You should only gamble with money you are willing to lose, especially when just starting out. If you’re serious about playing poker, consider tracking your wins and losses to get a sense of your progress.
A common rule is to play with a bankroll that can cover 200 bets at the highest limit. This way, if you’re losing, you can just stop and come back to the table later with a fresh bankroll.
If you are holding a pocket pair of kings or queens and the flop comes A-8-5, then you should fold. This type of hand doesn’t stand a chance against the board, particularly if it has multiple flush or straight cards.
