Poker is one of the oldest card games in the world. A game that has a great social aspect, it brings people together to make friends and laugh. The game also offers a lot of psychological nuances that make it interesting. It is a game of chance but the betting adds an element of strategy and psychology that makes it different from just a simple card game.
After each player receives their 2 cards, there is a round of betting initiated by 2 mandatory bets called blinds put into the pot by the players sitting to their left. This gives the pot value right away and a reason for people to play.
Then a third card is dealt face up, this is known as the flop. After this there is another round of betting as players decide whether to call, raise, or fold their hands.
If more than one player has a winning hand at the end of the last round of betting, they reveal their hands in a showdown. Then the highest hand wins the pot. For example, five of a kind beats four of a kind. When a pair, three of a kind, or flush tie, the highest unmatched card breaks the tie, such as A J 9 6 2.
Successful poker players learn to extract maximum value from their winning hands and minimise losses from losing ones. They are skilled at reading their opponents and adapting to their emotions.