The game of poker is one that requires a lot of thinking and strategy. It also requires you to read your opponents and their betting patterns. This is where you can really separate yourself from other players and gain a huge advantage in the game.
The game begins with all players placing an ante (amount varies by the game, ours is usually a nickel). Once everyone has their cards they can either call or fold. The player with the highest hand wins the pot.
Once betting is done and there are still players in the hand the dealer deals three community cards face up on the table. These are called the flop. After the flop there is another round of betting. Once this round is over the dealer puts 1 more card on the table that everyone can use, this is called the turn.
At this point you will need to decide whether or not your hand is good enough to play. If your hand is good you will want to raise the stakes by raising your bets. If your hand is not good you will need to fold. The key is to bet early in the hand so you can take control of the pot. Too many new players don’t bet and miss out on a lot of value. They check too much or call when they should be raising. This is why a premium opening hand like a pair of kings or queens is so important to play aggressively with.