The game of poker has many catchy expressions, but one that is particularly meaningful is “Play the Player, Not the Cards.” This means that a great player will make other players think twice about calling their bets. This is what makes poker so interesting, and it’s a large part of the reason why people like to watch it.
The rules of poker require that each player place an initial contribution, or forced bet, into the pot before the cards are dealt. These mandatory bets are called antes, blinds, or bring-ins. During the betting intervals of a Poker deal, players can call, raise, or fold their cards. Minimizing losses with bad hands and increasing winnings with good ones is the underlying skill in Poker.
There is another round of betting after each player receives their two hole cards. Then the dealer places three more cards, called the flop, on the table. Players then have the option of raising, folding or bluffing. A final betting interval is followed by a showdown, where each remaining player shows their hand. The player with the best Poker hand wins the pot.
Depending on the rules of your Poker game, you may also establish a fund, or kitty, to pay for things like new decks of cards and food and drinks. Any chips left in the kitty when a Poker game ends are split evenly among players still in the game. This differs from some other card games in which a player’s share of the kitty is lost when they leave the table before the end of the game.