The Basics of Poker

If you’re a fan of gambling, poker is a great game to get involved with. Not only is it a fun way to spend time with friends, but it’s also a very skill-based game when you know what you’re doing (and that takes a lot of practice).

Poker is a card game where players place an initial bet before the cards are dealt. These are called forced bets and can be in the form of antes, blinds or bring-ins. Once everyone has placed their bets, the dealer deals 2 cards face down to each player. These are your hole cards. Then a round of betting begins, starting with the player to the left of the button.

After the first betting round is complete, the dealer puts 3 additional community cards face up on the table that anyone can use. This is known as the flop.

Once again, there is another round of betting and once all bets are in, the dealer puts 1 more community card face up on the table. This is called the river.

The final phase of the hand is known as the showdown. This is where the player with the best 5 card poker hand is declared the winner.