In poker, money is put into the pot voluntarily by players who believe that their bets have positive expected value (or for other strategic reasons like trying to bluff). While the outcome of any particular hand has significant chance involved, over the long run, poker becomes a game of skill and psychology.

Each round of poker begins with the players anteing something into the pot (the amount varies by game; our games typically start at a nickel). Then players are dealt two cards face down. Once everyone is ready to begin betting, one player (the button position varies by game) says “check.”

After checking, betting starts with the person to the left of the button. Then, players reveal their hands and either call or fold. Players with a high hand win the pot.

A high hand can consist of a straight, three of a kind, four of a kind, or a full house. A full house consists of 3 cards of the same rank and 2 matching cards of another rank. A straight consists of 5 consecutive cards of the same suit. A three of a kind consists of three cards of the same rank and one unmatched card. A pair consists of two cards of the same rank and one unmatched side card.

The goal of a strong poker player is to play the situation and not their cards. Your hand is only good or bad in relation to what the other players are holding. If you have kings and the other player has A-A, your kings are losers 82% of the time.