Learn the Basics of Poker

If you’ve ever sat down to play a game of poker, you’ve likely heard the phrase “Go big or go home.” While it’s true that you can lose if you are too cautious, playing conservatively will only put you in a disadvantageous position at the table. Stronger players see caution as weakness and will eat you alive at the table.

The first round of betting begins after all players receive their 2 hole cards. This round of betting is based on 2 mandatory bets called blinds put into the pot by the players to the left of the dealer. Then 1 more card is dealt face up and the second round of betting begins.

As a beginner you should learn to pay attention to your opponents’ tells. These aren’t necessarily the subtle physical poker tells like fiddling with their chips or scratching their nose, but instead the way they play and act at the table. If someone always calls and then raises a huge amount on the turn you can bet that they have an unbeatable hand.

You should also familiarize yourself with the different types of poker hands. These include: Royal flush, Straight flush, Flush, Four of a kind, Three of a kind, Two pair, and High card. It’s also important to understand the odds in poker, particularly drawing and pot odds. The better you understand these odds the easier it will be for you to make smart decisions at the table.