Poker is a game of incomplete information where each action you take (folding, calling, checking) gives your opponents bits of information that they use to build a story about you. Sometimes they think you have a good hand, other times they think you have a bad one. Regardless, you’re constantly giving away information and trying to give them the wrong impression about your strength and weakness.
The first thing you need to understand about poker is how betting works. The players in the first two seats to the left of the dealer put in “blind bets” of a certain amount before their starting hands are dealt. This creates a pot of money and encourages competition. After the blind bets are placed, each player can fold, check, call or raise. When a player raises, they bet an amount higher than the last player’s bet.
When you have a strong starting hand, you should usually raise to price out weaker hands. This will allow you to bet more often and force the weaker hands into the pot. However, if you have a weak starting hand, it’s often better to just fold because you’ll likely lose.
It’s also important to know how each type of poker hand ranks against the others. This will help you determine if it’s worth putting in any money to make a specific type of poker hand. For example, a flush beats a straight and three of a kind beats two pair.
Another essential concept to understand is how to read your opponents’ actions. This is especially true if you’re playing heads-up against them. Depending on how they play, you can get an idea of their strength and weakness by studying their body language and their betting patterns.
You should also pay attention to how long it takes them to act. If they move quickly, it’s usually a sign of weakness. On the other hand, if they take a long time to call or raise, it’s probably a sign of strength. They’re likely deciding whether they want to risk their whole stack on the hand or not.
A lot of new players fall into the trap of wanting cookie-cutter poker advice like, “always 3bet X hands” or, “always check-raise your flush draws.” The truth is that each situation is different and you’ll need to learn how to adjust your strategy accordingly. However, by following some of these basic principles, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a solid poker player. Just be sure to keep learning and stay humble! Good luck! And have fun. – JC “Jack” Carter