Poker is a card game in which players place bets based on probability, psychology, and game theory. The game can involve a large amount of chance, but the long-run expected value of a player is largely determined by actions chosen on the basis of skill and psychology.
A deck of 52 cards is used, although some variant games use multiple packs or add wild cards (dueces or one-eyed jacks). The cards are ranked in ascending order from Ace to King, Queen, and Jack, with the highest hand winning the pot. Each player begins the hand by placing an initial forced bet, usually either an ante or blind. Then the dealer shuffles the cards, and each player cuts off a portion of the deck. The button (a plastic disk in live poker) indicates the dealer, and it is passed clockwise after each hand.
After the flop, each player has the option to check, raise, or fold. If nobody calls the bet then the highest ranked hand wins the pot, and the remaining players discard their cards.
When you say “call” or “I call” you are indicating that you wish to raise the previous player’s bet by an equal amount. You should only raise if you believe that your hand is the best in the current situation, and you should avoid talking to other players while they are holding their cards—even if it’s just a simple “Hello”! This is a very poor poker etiquette and can distract other players, making it more difficult for them to make sound decisions.