The Basics of Poker Strategy

Poker is a card game that has more to do with chance than skill (that’s not to say there isn’t skill, but it’s not nearly as much when nothing is at stake). The goal of the game is to win the pot which is the total amount of all bets made in one deal. To do this players must first ante something (the amount varies by game, ours is a nickel).

Once all players have called the bets made they are dealt cards and the betting continues. The next phase is the flop, which is when an additional card is revealed to all players and everyone can now check/call/raise/fold. This is when you want to play your strongest hands aggressively. Pushing people out of the pot will force them to either fold a strong hand or pay you for your bluff.

After the flop betting again begins and the fourth card is revealed this time it’s known as the turn. The same rules apply here, but if you have a good hand you should bet aggressively. This will cause other players to either call and/or raise your bets and increase the value of your hand.

If you have a weaker hand you should try to keep the pot size small so you can exercise pot control. However, you can still bluff and make your opponents overthink and reach the wrong conclusions. This is a very effective strategy in poker and should be used frequently.