Poker is a card game where players place bets in accordance with the rules of the specific poker variant being played. Once the bets have equalized — that is, each player has put in exactly as many chips as his or her predecessors — there is a showdown, and the best poker hand wins.
In most games of poker, each player starts with 2 hole cards that are dealt face down. A round of betting then commences, starting with the player to the left of the button (a position that marks where the dealer will begin each deal). The player to his or her left must first place mandatory bets called “blinds” into the pot before any other players can act – these are designed to create an incentive for people to play and help generate a pot worth competing for.
After the flop, a fourth community card is dealt. Another round of betting then takes place. Finally, the fifth and final card is dealt face up – this is the river. There is one final round of betting, and the player with the highest five-card poker hand wins the pot.
Like life, poker is often won not by the best hand, but rather by a player’s tenacity and courage. However, over time, the application of skill will virtually eliminate the variance of luck and allow for a much greater level of control.
