The Basics of Poker
In most poker games, each player has the privilege or obligation to make the first bet. Then, each player must put chips into the pot equal to the total contribution of the player before him. This is called an “active player”.
If more than one player remains, a showdown will take place. During the showdown, players will reveal their hidden cards and evaluate their hands. The player with the best hand wins the pot. Poker hands are composed of five cards, each representing a different suit. The highest-ranking five-card combination wins the pot. A high hand, in poker terms, consists of four of a kind or a straight flush. In some poker games, a pair of aces is the lowest-ranked hand.
A player’s hand is usually discarded if the other player does not call. This action is referred to as a “drop” or a “fold”. A player who folds may not compete for the pot, depending on the circumstances. A player may also call, or fold, an opponent’s bet. A player who folds is said to have “bad luck.”
In almost all games of Poker, players use poker chips. Games with seven or more players should provide poker chips. The lowest-valued chip is the white chip. The next-highest chip is the red chip. Then, each player purchases a chip. Then, all players buy into the game. Usually, each player purchases the same number of chips. If they all buy in, the winner gets the pot. This method of betting is known as bluffing.