Poker is a card game in which players bet against each other, and the winner claims the pot (the amount of chips placed into the pot by the players during a hand). The game requires skill as well as luck to win. A good player can make opponents fold even with the weakest of hands by assessing the situation correctly and applying pressure effectively.
The game starts with everyone being dealt two cards. There then follows a round of betting, with the player to the left of the dealer placing their first bet. The next two players then have the option of either calling the bet or raising it.
If you have a strong hand, raise it to scare players into folding, and to put yourself in the best position to win. If you have a made hand, such as a pair or three of a kind, you can also raise to force players with drawing hands (that need more cards to make a winning hand) to call your bet.
Be aware of your opponent’s tells, which are unconscious habits that reveal information about their hand. These can be anything from a subtle change in the timbre of their voice to a repetitive gesture. A player’s tells can give away their strength, weakness or whether they are bluffing. It is important for dealers to know these nuances in order to deal fairly.